The times., 1900-12-21
Great Britain and the Treaty.

Great Britain and the Treaty.
In common with most Americans of pa
| triotic proclivities, The Times has been
saying rather hard things of the British
| Government in connection with the pro-
| posed Hay-Pauncefote Convention, under
| the impression that an instrument in
| writing so subversive of everything
American and so manifestIy in the inter-
| est OF Great Britain could not be the vol
untary work Of our State Department
Ever since the first publication of the so
| called Hay-Pauncefote Treaty." we have
been without much respect for the ability
of the head of our Foreign Office, solely
because We assumed that he was inexcus-
able in permitting himself TO be influenced
and humbugged into presenting such an
engrossed iniquity to the Senate of the
United States. And We have been severe
in our structures of Lord Salisbury for
his supposed-part in the transaction.
1t is learned. however. on the statement
OF Mr.. Hay, that he alone is responsible
for the affront to this country, which We
had fully believed up to the moment of
his confession. 10 be chargeable to the
British Government. The situation as it
exists, thus becomes one of which Lord
Salisbury and his colleagues are justly
entitled to complain. They are looking
out for the interests Of their country, and
no matter what we may find TO antagonize
in their official policy and course, are not
to be blamed for doing so. 1t is a pity
that the United States is not as loyalty
and honestly served as is Queen Victoria.
Her Ministers, as we are told, received
the overtures of Mr.. Hay inviting British
and European control of the Nieara qua
Canal, Offering American surrender of the
right 10 use 1t in time of war for mill
tary purposes, and to defend it in any
way at any time, and, further, Offering in
effect to abandon the Monroe Doctrine,
without asking for or expecting those or
any similar propositions. That Lord Sails
bury should promptly accept such offers
was matter of course. They came like
bag of gold dropped in a mans lap
from heaven --3tos' se' ti
The attitude of the Senate and of The
American people is an absolute surprise
TO public men in England. When Nj Nc
did Great Britain presumed and had a
right TO presume that they we're fully in
formed in regard TO national sentiment in
the United States, and that it would ef-
ficiently back them in carrying the con-
veution triunphantly through the Senate.
Now the British Government, which, as
matter of fact has done nothing but ac
cept a free gift pressed upon IL by the
Administration, not only discovers that
MIR Mckinley and Mr.. Hay were ignorant
of popular opinion on the subject bur that
it is placed in the position Of trying to
interfere in American affairs and of at
tempting to hamper an American national
work by demanding its control in partner
ship with the Concert of Europe.
We are not surprised that this is con-
sidered cause for irritation in London.
Transatlantic statesmen are incapable of
understanding how such thing could
happen, and we are unable to find fault
with them. The Hons tail has been twist
ed simply because no intelligent American
until now has been able TO believe that
man could be found, calling himself an
American who would deliberately gratui-
tously, and unnecessarily offer to surren-
der The interests. dignity. and honor Of his
native land to foreign power.
Mr. Hay has truly said that for what
ever odium attaches to the so-calied Hay
Pauncefote Treaty" the State Depart
.ment, meaning himself, is solely respon-
sible. The effort, then. to establish Great
Britain in military control Of the future
American canal, In conjunction with lead
ing European states, and TO abolish the
policy maintained by this country for
tbree-fourths Of a century, H. not TO be
credited to Lord Salisbury, but to Mr..
Hay We are sincerely sorry that he has
pat the British Foreign ofiice and his own
people in such painful position. How
ever. he has, and the only thing he can do
TO obscurfty.
We cannot bring ourselves TO say all
that we think respecting this matter. II
the dominating influences in the body pol
itic were other than what they are, such an
outrage upon patriotism would neither be
eondoned nor go unpublished. As it is.
the un-American action OF Mr.. Hay has
the hearty acquiescence Of his chief and
his Cabinet associates. But the people
are aroused and Mr Mckinley will make
a grave mistake if ne permits Mr. Hay to
retain the portfolio of State another week.
Whether or not he deserves it, he is thor
oughly discredited, distrusted, and con-
temned by all Americans who have the
sense of allegiance to their own country
rather than to Victoria, by the grace of
God Queen of Great Britain and ireland
osT