The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-22
THE CANAL IN TIME OF WAR
ATTITUDE or IHE UNITED STiIES
TOWARD THE PANAMA 'iNii'
Strong Argument by secretary E'nris ~ "
Letter to Oar Minister Ia s"ion'pl"
against Permitting the Use OF Ihht
Canal by an Enemy Ia Time OF war.

Against Permitting te "" '"
Canal by AN Enemy In Time 81 war
WASHINGTON, March -. The President to-
day sent to thv Senate. IN response TO a rc'oIu-
ton. the correspondence between the state
Department and the United States OF colombia
In relation to tho Panama Cana. and the treaty
between the two Governments. signed In lSfb,
under which the United States undertook to
guarantee tho neutrality Of the lsthmns OF
Panama and the soyeroiRnity o' the hi'ed
States OF Colombia. The correspondence COM
prises more than a thousand pages OF printed
and typewrltten matter, nearly all OF which
has been published heretofore. either by tho
Senate as q document or by tho State Depart
nent In It's annual Issue Of Foreign Relations.
One Of the most important documents not be-
fore made public Is "A strong argument by Sec
rotary Eyarts against permitting tho Panama
canal 10 be used by an enemy OF the United
States in time Of war. which has a direct nppli-
cation W tho present Hay Pauncofote conyen-
ton. 1t was addressed 20 United States Min
lister Dichnan. at Bogota, dated April 10. 1850.
Immediately after the former concessions for
the Panama Canal had been transferred to M.
DeLesseps. This action was taken without con-
sultation with the American Government. and
Mr.. Evarts directs Minister DIchman to ex-
press 10 thu Colon bian Government tho sur
prise Of the President that, in view OF the ex-
listing treaties. tho BOgota officials had not
deemed It natural and suitable to Inform the
State Department. BY the Treaty Of lSi6ths
United States were the guarantors OF tho
neutrality OF any inter.oceanic canal through
the Isthmus Of Panama and the sovereignty
OF Colombia over tho territory through which
It passed.
III We are rlghtfully informed" Secretary
Evarts says. mo other government has been
willing to come into any such treaty relations
with Colombia. and to-day such n canal, by
whom soeve rc0mplstpi would need TO rest upon
this stipulated protection OF the United States.
The Treaty OF lSiS Is still In force: and II the
Language OF the eighth article OF the Clayton.
Bulwer Treaty Of 1850. between the United
States and Great Britain. be accepted as indl.
eating the willingness of the United States
that other nations should share the rights md
obligations OF the guarantee OF the Treaty Of
1S4j, Il IL equally clear that such participation
could only be- attained by some new diplomatic
enpagements, In which the United States il
contracting party. and both the Treaty Of 1876
and the Clayton Treaty OF 1850 would
Judge OF and define the circum stances and
stipulations under which It would accede TO
such new engagements.
In all the language that this Government
has ever used. in all the action 1t has ever pro-
posed in reference to an interoceanic canal, It
has expressed not only its Willingness but IL
anxiety that such an enterprise should be for
the benefit OF the worlds commerce. and in no
proposition that IL has ever made has it sought
for its citizens or its special advau-
tagas. The Government Of the United States
might thersfore be willing. in the matter OF
the mere mercantile interests Of lis citizens. to
trust to the Intelligent self-interest Of those
who undertake its construction TO see that
raasonableness and equality OF tolls, simplicity
OF regulation and perfect mpartiality of treat
n; msn ss s mmc % " %aa ai ' nst lnngcs IN iis c 10 array
But Il caunot be concealed, and the Govern
ment Of the United States does not desire to
conceal. that its relations to this enterprise
must be governed BY larger ami more serious
This enterprise, once achieved. will work
more than a com me rclal revolution. II TOUCHES
territory Of the United states must need be
maintained. While the Uuited states feel no
concern as to the Adequacy. of their power 70
there is no Issue In the worlds politics which
ut all threatens their tranquility; while their
relations with all nations are. and promise TO
be, those OF pence and good will, yet It Is I'M
wise not 70 anticipate "a possible contingent.
eies which may expose our systems to trials
not now obvious or probable.
cal condition. our Pacific coast IL so situated
that with our railroad connections time would
elwaYs be allowed 20 prepare foI It's defence
anne advantage would be given to q hostile
feet which would be- given to friendly CON.
merce: is line of operations ana the time In
which warliko demonstration could be made
would be enormously shortened. All thu
treaties Of neutrality in tho world might fail to
be q safeguard In a time OF great conflict.
"The Government OF Colombia can scarcely
be. raw that these considerations have
before this Occupied both itself and the Govern.
ment OF the United States. since the date Of
the request Of the Republic OF Colombia. un.
dertook the guarantee OF the neutrality Of thu
isthmus aud the soyereignty Of Colombia,
reference to the same interest Il is unneces.
sary to recall to your attention the causes
which prevented the final settlement Of these
discussions. but | feel confident that tho Gov
eminent OF Colon bia will admit that ia these
negotiations there. was one principle always
assumed as their basis. aud that was
Government OF tho United States. or an asso-
citation OF their citizens to whom the Govern
ment OF the United States might transfer the
privileges and franchises Of the concession. It
was the recognition of this principle which
enabled the United States, with due regard to
their own rights and responsibilities. u ac-
cept the ireest participation Of all nations in
k'O y - 49,. = 'ANA' y sN'AH
But this nditiD would be materially altarol
and even disturbed. II, without some certain
and safe guarantee against the possible
dangers which the unfortunate suspension of
peaceful relations with the world light cause.
the canal was Itself the properly OF parties
whose interests might be at variance with our
own. All,
ment cannot consider itself excluded by any
Arrangement between other powers or lndi-
yiduals to which II IL not Il party. from a direct
interest and, IL necessary. a positive super
vision and interposltion iuthc Execution Oi any
project which; hy completing an interOceauic
connection through the i,thmus. would mater
Tally affect its con mrrcial int rests, change the
impose upon it the necessity OF a foreign policy
which. whether in its feature OF warlike prepar-
alton or entangling alliance. has been hitherto
eedulously avoided.
that its proposition to the great maritime
powers TO Join in the guarantee Of the ncu-
trality ot the isthmua and the sovereignty and
proprietary interests OF tOiumhla, heretofore
made. was declined. and the reasons for their
uuwillingness to ASSUME this great reRpOnsi-
bility are OF course of record in the DIPLOMATIC
archives OF tho Color blnn Government. should
this interOceanic connection ever be- accom-
plished and should ia control become, in the
combinations Of international relations. u mat.
ter OF importnn"e to any power, II Will surely
not be deemed by the Colombian GDVarnmrut
either disrrsrrctful or untrendly 10 suggest
that the military strength OF the Government
Of Colombia would br Inadequate 10 maintain
IT, security or !ts nEeatra.ity. and that the en-
United States would probably be sought.
as Il has been before. should the possibilitv
OF such "A necessity become. under altered cir
cumstanccs. a IrpIahlc occurrence. IL wopid
be the duty Of the United States. not only 10
Themselves. but To- the Government nf Cnlum-
bia, To see that they were In position 10 enforce
the guarantee which existing treaties Impose
upon Them and which her frr,ing Of .Inrrr,
friendship Tor the Government II C,I,u,hI,