The evening times., 1900-02-07
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY :. 1000.
EnrInnd's Diplomatic victory

EnEInnd's Diplomatic Victory.
Two very able and distinguished Amer
lean Secretaries OF State. the late Mr.
Frelinghuysen and the late Mr.. Blaine
notoriously regarded the Clayton BuIwer
Treaty as an agreement which had been
absolutely II not formally abandoned and
vacated by Great Britain. by acts Of that
Government in violation Of its vital and
basic terms. In the Clayton Bulwer Trea-
" Great Britain engaged never to effect
any permanent settlement on the Mosquito
Coast Not later than 1855. British col
Ony was established and is there today,
Il is not to be supposed that the point
upon which the friends of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty depend for their contention
that it is still a live instrument. was not
familiar to Mr. Frelinghuysen and Nr
Blaine. Il Is that, in a message 10 Con
gress. dated April ,. 1860 relating to the
ratification OF a treaty OF friendship. com
merce. and navigation with the Republic
Of Honduras. President Buchanan referred
to certain provisions Of the Clayton -Bul-
wer Treaty as representing national policy
and duty. Hence il Is claimed that h.
recognized the treaty as a whole as still
binding. II is also contended that while
in 1875. and afterWard the Clayton Bulwsr
Treaty became voidable through England
tort. il never became void for lack Of for
NAL denunciati0u on the part OF the United
states. Messrs. Frelinghuysen and Blaine
held TO a contrary opinion, and believed
and frequently asserted that the act Of
violation. committed by England. in colo
uizing the Mosquito Coast and the Bay
Islands close to it, was one Of abandon
mcnt and was 50 conclusive as 10
relieve this country from any further OBJ
iig-.ion under the violated and vacated
agreement even 20 the extent that We
were not bound to give notice Of termius-
tlon
We have been informed that Nr. HAY
does not coincide with the views OF his
two predecessors above mentioned.
n a. were question between the distiu-
guished Secretary Of State and us We
might weH feel diHident about venturing
20 combat the opinion OF such master Of
diplomacy. But perhaps It would not be
jmmode-t on our part 10 suggest the
suspicion that Mr.. Frelinghuysen was
at least as competent an authority
ON matters OF international law as
the present head of the depart
ment and so we feel less embarrassment
in vcIruring to differ with the latter But.
suppose 70 be granted that by a stretch Of
technicality the Clayton -BuIwer Treaty,
which England refused TO consider binding
upon her. but regards as completely bind
ing on the United States. may be said 70
have some sort Of nebulous existence for
want Of the formality Of denunciation,
Where is the utility in splitting hairs over
it, Why not ignore it altogether. and. IL
the other party should find fault, point the
digitur mOnstrari at the fourishiug Brit
ish colony ON the sIosquito Coaste
The more carefully the Hay-Pauucefote
convention is aualyzed the less acceptable
II appears 10 the American people. and
. the more certain Il becomes that unless
Mr.. Mckinley takes time by the forelock,
and wi,hdraws it for revision. in accord
auce with patriotic sentiment and deter
miu0rior. &c viii be rejected by the SEN
ave. and that in that rejection. q stinging
rsbukc will be Administered 90 the Ad-
miHstraiiOu. Technical considerations
aside for all practical purposes the Clay
Bulwer Treaty is as dead as Hector
The Hay-Pauncefote substitute. if ratified.
would revive it, and all and singular
IFS obnoxious features.
Prominent among the reasons why the
people Of this country have demanded an
exclusively American waterway across the
lsthmus, is the necessity for such
facility as a naval base. The Nicaragua
Canal scientifically will form a part Of the
American coast line; strategically the
most important part OF IT, To agree that
we will never fortify or protect it. but in
the event OF war with a European power
will operate and maintain it for the con-
veuience OF that belIigerent equally with
our own, and deny ourselves the slightest
military advantage on account, of its
possession. would b. stark madness. Mid
way between the termlni Of the proposed
canal is Lake Nicaragua a body OF water
capable OF affording safe harborage 10 our
whole navy. Every military consideration
would demand that in time OF war with
any naval nower a reserve feet should be
anchored iu the Lake. ready to run out
East OF West as menaces to our several
coasts might render advisable. Under the
Hay-Psuncefotc convention American war
vessels would not be allowed to stop in
Lake Nicaragua. They would be com
PEELED 90 make continuous passage.
would not be permitted to take on milf
tsry supplies en- route through American
territory, and would be forced to leave the
port Of destination within tweuty-four
hours after reaching t. Aud this is all
We get in return for constructing a canal
at cost Of one hundred and forty million
dollars, end policing it at our own expense
for the benefit OF the maritime nations
generally. but principally for that OF Eng
land--the power that assumes the right to
block the mouth OF the Mediterranean
against the peoples whose countries lie
upon it. The scheme is outrageous and
Infamous.
IR Cape Colony and Natal.
The one item in our South African
budget today which Is Indicative OF a Sc