The times., 1900-12-19
Circulation Statement.
The Hay Gratuity to England.

n
while the Senate may not be inclined 10
attach great Importance to the alleged
charge made against the Hon. John Hay,
by the English editor, Stead, the fact
OF its publication imposes the duty Of
thorough investigation. 1t should never
be said that an American Secretary CT
State has been left under the imputation
of having voluntarily, and without con-
sultation with anyone. invited Great
Britain to assume military control OF an
American interoceanic waterway, built,
owned, and operated by our Government,
and, necessarily. destined TO form vital
part of our coast line, without affording
him an opportunity 10 clear his skirts.
Mr.. Stead charges Mr.. Hay with being
the author and proposer of the provision
in the proposed Hay-Pauncefote Con7en-
tion prohibiting the United States from
fortifying, protecting. or defending the
Nicaragua Canal. and says. on behalf of
his Government: We have accepted it
from Mr. Secretary Hay, who, for reasons
of state, into which it is not necessary
to enquire, wished the treaty TO be drawn
in that shape
1t may not be necessary for the British
Government, or for Mr.. Stead-if his as
tonishing and startling charge be true-to
enquire into the reasons of state which
actuated Mr.. Hay in his attempt TO sur
render in advance American control over
an American property whose protection
against an enemy might be imperative
necessity. But the case is different with
the American people, and their represen-
tstives il Congress. Indeed the country
has right 10 know all about these ''rea-
sons OF state" The universal indignation
which has been excited by the attempt to
revive the dead and buried ClaytonBul-
wer Treaty, TO destroy the Monroe Doc
trine and to invite the suzerainty Of Eng
land and the Concert of Europe over in
ternational affairs in the Western Hemi-
sphere, is sufficient evidence that the
American public thinks 1t possesses, and
will find some way to exercise. that right.
II the Stead theory be correct, and Mr..
Hay had reasons, original or dictated
by persons or influences in higher au-
thority, for adopting the course ascribed
to him, it would be desirable for the Sem
ate not only to learn what they were, but
to stick its probe deep into the mystery
of that Mckinley Salisbury secret alliance
which, persistently denied by the Admin
istration, is still believed generally 10 be.
or. at least, to have been, a fact and
scandalous one. Without a strong motive.
ii is impossible to conceive that the Ad-
ministration could gratuitously offer such
a surrender of American rights, preee-
dents. principles. and declared policy and
doctrine. as the text of the Hay -Paunce-
fote iniquity shows TO have been by it
contemplated. 1t is competent for any
and every citizen of this Republic TO ask:
What could have been that motive?
There was a sinister coincidence of the
secret formulation of the proposed Hay
Pauncefote Convention, without notice to
the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. but with the privity and approval of
the leading European Cabinets. with the
surrender to Great Britain of the Amer
lean territory in Alaska which had been
invaded. seized. and fortified by the mill
tary forces of Canada. The coincidence
might almost seem TO justify a suspicion
that there was an esoteric connection be-
tween the TWO incidents. We do not abso-
iutely credit the report. but it has been
said that the Alaskan boundary question
is not so much one of national frontier, so
far as the Administration is interested in
IL, as OF .he designs and purposes of
great Anglo-American syndicate, desirous
of obtaining possession of a rich gold field
within our far northern possessions, under
,;ch I'D xr-fs nn
cial advantages Of British coast line on
the Pacific, and British ports convenient
for the development and control of syndi
cate fisheries and other profitable indus
tries.
II there could be anything in such "a
let US say-rumor wide range for specu-
lation would be opened One might won
der If the whole Hay-Pauncefote scheme
had not been designed TO place Great
Britain in position, with apparent re-
Iuctance, TO make concessions 10 Ameri
can sentiment, in connection with amend
ments certain TO be imposed by the Sem
ate, and to demand in return the surren-
der OF unquestioned and unquestionable
American rights In Alaska. II we were to
look at the matter from such a viewpoint
there would appear 10 be suggestiveness
in the latest expressions of the British
press on the subject. For example, the
Westminster Gazette" says:
1--WE all desire many things which are barred
by neighbors' rights, and can often get
them for a price. The Clayton -Buiwer Treaty
nlsy be vexatious and obsolete, but 1t happens
&c exist. We would have been willing TO abandon
part OF it without compensation, but if asked
q
some kind Of compensation.
The Senate irritates not by the cxorbitsncy
of its Demands but by its apparent assump-
tios that il can abolish the treaty merely by cali
Ing il inconvenieDt or out Of date The way out of
the present difficulty is to get the veXatious
ALASKAN boundary question settled against the
abrossTion Of the clayton-Bulwer Treaty. We can
part with the latter and Obiige America without
sacrifcing anything vital Substantially altering
inevitable facts; but ought To get ia exchange
sons consideration from the United States Gov
eminent
The Westminster Gazette" as a rule,
is a well-informed journal and apt 10
speak with knowledge of British ministe
rial opinion. II it is right in the opinion
Bniwer Treaty is only regarded by Great
Britain as a valueless asset, but, never
theiess. good enough with the backing of
British bullying and the British navy 10
trade on, We may well enquire whether or
not our recent splendid diplomacy has
been directed to making that asset not
only useful but iDtrinsieally valuable.
What the Westminster Gazette" and
ether insuiar journals taking the same