Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-02-09
NICARAGUAN CANAL.
Treaty Placing Its Control Absolutely
with the United States
Is Signed.

Washington, Feb. 6. - The Hay
Pauncefote treaty, amendatory Of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty relative to the
construction OF the Nicaragua canal,
was signed at the state department
Monday by Secretary Hay and the
Right Hon. Lord Pauncefote, of Pres
tor, for Great Britain. Though the
consummation of the treaty occupied
some time, owing to the necessity of
comparing the two drafts, there was
very little formali.y about the cere-
mony, and a convention that is expect
ed to be, for the United States, ut least,
of the most far-reaching Importance
and value. came into being without any
theatrical surroundings.
Mr.. Smith carried the freshly signed
treaty to the white house, where the
letter of transmittal was signed by the
president, so that the treaty could be
dispatched at once to the United States
senate for ratification. The letter of
transmittal was purely formal, simply
commencing the treaty of the senate
without entering upon any argument
to demonstrate its great value.
Secretary Hay declined to make pub
lie the text of the treaty, or even to
make any statement as to its details,
holding that courtesy to the senate
obliged him to remain silent until the
| senate itself removed the seal of con-
| fidence from the convention. So that
all that is now known of this conven-
| tion is that it amends the Clayton Bull
wer treaty of 1850 in such manner that
Great Britain yields to the United
States the right to construct the Mica
raguan canal, or a canal at any other
point on the isthmus, without British
| participation. Most of the other feat
ures of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty are
retained. This is notably true of arti-
Gle No. s, which guarantees the abso-
lutte neutrality of any canal. and the
security of the capital invested. 1t is
understood that the United States con-
tinues upon itself this obligation to
maintain the naturalization of the canal,
which shall be forever open and free.
1t is also believed that the treaty looks
to an international undertaking on this
point.
AS soon as the treaty is ratified and
the notifications have been exchanged
| the United States will be at liberty to
proceed at once with the construction
of an isthmian canal unfettered by
any obligations toward Great Britain
save that of allowing to British cit.
liens, as to the citizens of other ma
tions, the use of the canal on the same
terms with American citizens.
There is absolutely no quid pro quo
offered TO Great Britain in this treaty
in return for the valuable concession
to the United States. Whatever re
turn the United States may choose tc
make for this concession is a thing Of
the future.
Washington, Feb. 6.-The new treaty
with Great Britain relative to the build
ing of the Nicaragua canal was received
by the senate and was read in executive
session. Senator Davis, chairman of thu
committee on foreign relations, moved
to make the treaty public, as it was ;
subject in which all were greatly in
terested, but after some discussion i
was decided to refer the matter to tn,
committee on foreign relations befor,
taking that step. The comments o
senator's upon the treaty after hearing
it read were favorable. 1t was said t.
allow the United States all the author
ity that was needed and the neutralit,
of the canal was guaranteed, as wa
the neutrality of the Suez canal.
| ---------