The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-25

WASHINGTON. Dec. 4-The state de-
partment has decided to send the amend
ments to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty to
the British government through two
channels. one being transmitted to Lord
Pauncefote, the British ambassador, and
the other through Ambassador Choate at
london, who will present II to the for
eign office. 1t Is the understanding that
the department will make no representa-
tion whatever as to the changes made
In the treaty: the senate amendments
will be allowed to speak for themselves.
and the action by the department will oe
purely formal. AS the papers leave New
York on tomorrow's mail steamer, they
should reach London about January 1,
so that the negotiations will certainly
lapse over into the next century at the
very earliest
1t can be authoritatively stated that
there has been no exchange whatever,
either In the shape of written notes or
oral communications between the state
department and the governments of Mic
aragua and Costa Rica, that has de-
veloped threat on the part of those
governments to refuse assent to the
construction OF canal in view
upon the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. All
that Is officially known of the
attitude OF the two governments
mentioned is that their representatives
ts
approved of the Hay Pauncefotes treaty
as the basis for the canal CONSTRUCTION
Whether or not the changes made On that
convention will effect their attitude is un-
known. The impression prevails that not
being called upon to come to a decision
on this point until the British govern
ment shall have passed upon the senate
amendments, the governments of Nica-
ragua and Costa Rica will not anticipate
that action by any declaration at this
stage.
British Position Unknown.
The British government has not up to
this time given the slightest Indication
as to Its purpose on the amended Hay
Pauncefote treaty, and II Is understood
that the subject will not be taken up
by the British cabinet until the draft
OF the amended instrument and the ad-
vices of the British ambassador at Wash
ington are received. Two general results
have been briefly summarized In cables
to the London authorities, but in mat
ter of this magnitude they would not act
until they were In possession of all the
data by mail Under these circumstances
II is evident that today's utterancee OF
the London press TO the effect that Great
Britain win stand firmly on the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. while indicating the pop
ular and to some extent the official opin-
ion, does not announce a policy which
has assumed any definite action thus far
on the part OF the British government.
Too Early to Talk.
The Nicaragua minister. Mr.. Corea was
asked To-Day as To the report tnAt ne mad
protested In behalf Of Nicaragua against
the amended form of the treaty. He said
he did not care 10 discuss the matter in
lts present status. but ne pointed out
the unlikelihood that Nicaragua and
Costa Rica would protest while the mat
ter was one OF domestic policy. Later on.
II II assumed the concrete form OF a
pro~,osition 10 be submitted to Nicaragua
and Costa Rica. II would be for them To
sa~ whether Il was acceptable or not
but in the meantime Il was hardly likely
that there would he any protest or other
action concerning a subject still in its
creative stnges In this country and IN
Great Britain and not yet before Mica
ragua and Costa Rtca
Nicaragua Attitude.
II can also ne stated, not on Mr.. Corea's
authority. but as a fact. that the Mica
~. .al.t.t