The evening times., 1900-03-08
A blow mt the Aminnce.

A Blow mt the Alliance.
For once, in a way. President Mckinley
has changed his mind in a popular direc-
tion. II is but few days since it was
asserted by Administration people gener-
ally that he was determined to force the
Hay Pauncefote Treaty through the Senate
without allowing ii TO be altered or amend
ed in the smallest particular. II is en-
tirely plain that he has beaten a hasty
retreat from this position since the return
Of Senator Lodge from Boston. and the re-
ceipt of information from other sources
the Nicaragua Canal under European con-
troll and TO surrender the Monroe Doctrine.
would certainly involve a sweeping Re-
publican defeat at the polls next Novem-
Der.
1t may be said with confidence that Mr.
Mckinley has not bowed to circumstances
this time without struggle. He keenly
appreciates the painful position in which
change of course on his part places Sec
retary Hay, but it is evident that the dan
ger to himself and his party has out
weighed the interests of his Foreign Min
lister.
Surrender comes in the form of an
amendment to the Hay yPauncefote Treaty.
prepared by Senator Davis and discussed
at the meeting of the Senate Foreign At
fairs Committee yesterday. 1t is expected
that the amendment will be adopted by
the committee at a meeting tomorrow. 1t
provides that the United States shall have
the right to take measures for the defence
of the canal and of its coasts of which the
waterway will form the connecting link,
in exactly the way that the same rights
are reserved to Turkey and Egypt in the
Suez Canal treaty.
The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty contains
many excerpts from the Suez agreement,
and ii is rather singular that they are
none of them calculated to promote Ameri
can liberty of action, while they are
largely useful in establishing control over
our own property and enterprise by the
Concert of Europe. But the saving clauses
in the Suez treaty. which distinctly and
elaborately provide that nothing in the
articles establishing neutrality and the
right of belligerent passage shall inter
fere with the rights of the Sultan and the
Khedive TO use such means as may be
necessary to safeguard the integrity of
their dominions. or of their coasts beyond
the termini of the canal are not repro
duced.
Perhaps Mr.. Hay may be able TO explain
how it came to pass that he omitted to
adopt this part of the Suez treaty, while
helping England to as much of it as he
did? If he had insisted upon inserting
provision that nothing in the agreement
proposed should prevent the United States
from taking such measures as might be
necessary for the protection of its prop
erty. coasts. and so on, in time of war,
much of the opposition which the Hay |
Panncefote Treaty has met might have |
been avoided. such a provision. it is an !
Senator Davis has arranged in his !
amendment.
In advance of any immediate explanation |
Hay may be about to make. we !
do like to express our full opinion of the I
position in which the present development /
puts him. Why did not he take advantage |
OF the clause in the Suez treaty permit !
ting Turkey aud Egypt TO fortify and de- |
fend the Suez Canal? Was he outwitted 1
by the British Foreign Office, or was it |
his deliberate design TO give his own |
country as little influence as possible. in |
the control of the Nicaragua Canal? II /
the latter. did he act of his own volition
and on his own initiative, or under orders? |
These are questions which cannot be evad-
ed without very grave embarrassment to |
he Administration.