The sun., 1900-12-06
CANAL TREATY TAKEN UP.
rur sEsArS DIsCrssEs IT ron Az
norm AVID 4 HAfF'
The Vsreiss Rsistions Commit's' Ea"a'iy
DtvtdsA on tho Ds,s Amendment
Lsdss Admits u Does Net Give shs
u.stsd etases 20 sr TO FoTtify the Canal

wIsgNo1oS. Dec s-Dlsousson OF the
Hay. .PaunceSots canal treaty was begun
IN earnest In the Senate executive session
o.dsy Tho debate was preceded by
Meeting OF the Foreign Relations Committee.
a, which q voto WAS taken TO test tho sense
@, its members on tho Davis amendment
s.n.rally described ns giving the United
states power TO control the canal That
the amendment docs not carry ths power TO
,ortifv tho waterway was admitted In debate
to-day by Senator Lodge The vote showed
The ten committeeman 10 be equally divided
on the Davis amen dment Two Rspubllcans
Lodge OF Msssac Thu sets and Clark OF Wyo-
ming and three Democrats, Daniel OF virginia.
Bacon OF Georgia and Money OF Mississippi.
think II should be made n part OF the con-
vcntIon before a vote IL taken on the Gues-
ton o' ratification, while one Democrat.
Morgan OF Alabama. and four Republicans.
Cullom OF Illinois, Frye OF Maine, Wolcott
Of Colorado and Foraker OF Onto. are willing
10 take the treaty as 1t was sent 10 the Senate
without amendment
The executive session was asked for by Mr.,
Lodge within half an hour after tho senate
met at noon and the doors remained closed
for an hour and half Senator Lodge, who
will be in charge OF the treaty on the hoor,
gave a somewhat extended explanation OF its
provisions He said that the President had
given this subject careful attention and had
reached the conclusion that II was highly
essential that tho treaty should he ratified
before canal legislation should he enacted
MIR Lodge believed the treaty ought to be
ratified. but lie also thought the committees
amendment should be inserted As amended.
he said. the treaty gave the United states all
he rights and privileges IL could reasonably
expect and were sufficient TO maintain the
canal under distinctly American control and
safeguard this government in all rs rights
and privileges
Tho committee amendment provides for
the insertion at the end ofsection5 s. Article II.
q the pending treaty n provlso as follows:
1t is agreed. however that none OF the I'M
medlatciy foregoing conditions and s,ipu-
lations In sections numbered /. 2. 3, and
Of this article. shall apply to measures which
the United states may fnd II necessary to
take for securing. by its own forces the de-
fence Of tho United States and tho mainten-
snce OF tho public order"
Senator Lindsay called attention 10 the
fact that the amendment came IN ut the end
q, the ffth section and related entirely and
exclusively TO the provisions that had gone
before. This amendment" said Mr., |
Lindsay, does not 30 - the bottom |
Of the whole matter. II prescrbes only |
what goes before it and does not Initiate |
that which follows. After the nth article |
~ the convention there intervenes tho sixth, |
and then follows the seventh, which in exact |
;erms specifies that no fortifcatons shall |
I've erected commanding the canal or the |
W aters adjacent | want to ask the Senator |
from Massachusetts II he contends that
under the amendment no advocated tho |
United States can erect and maintain per-
manent fortfcations for the protection and
defence OF the canal
No, the amendment: does not grant any
such right replied Mr.. Lodsc.
Not even If the United states believed
that such fort!acattons were a. solutey
sential 70 its own sa:e.y?- asked Mr. Lindsay.
Nobody has contend.d," replied Mr.
Lodge. that under this amendment this
Government would retain the right TO erect
permanent fortifcations for ths defence OF
tn. canal
Mr. Lodg. explained that the reservations
in the amendment related 10 the
sections enumerated only. and cont-nded
that under the amn Hdnen' this Government
would have the right N time Of war, as against
an enemy. 20 stop tho use OF the canal by
any means other than permanent fortNCa-
,ions Tho amendment. he insisted. would |
permit this Government. in tho event Il was
ieeruPt necessary. 10 N'ul a bN'teNllp 70 !
zach end of the canal and plu. 1t mp. thus |
preventing it, use by any nation that was ,
rimical to the United states The onlv .
hing, hc contordnd, that was prohibited |
wa, the construction of permanent for,i'ict- |
ions lie admitted. in response 20 further
questions. that even this rSht would he !
irnied this Government IL the treaty we're |
.ntIilod without gny amendment Whatever. |
Mr. Bcvrgidge asked II the Clayton-Bulwer |
Treaty were ahrogqted would not Great !
Britain have the rlgnt 10 own prop erty In tho
u'rIl American states:
"No. said Mr. Lodge. Il do not think SO.
Tho ahroCatIon u that treaty would not give
ireat britain nur rights. but this Govern
uent cannot afford TO lightly throw aside lis
.plcmn obligations and Compacts Treaties
II" not ~ no denounced and cast aside co
'aslv They are the agreements Of nations
nd their abrogatlon must be carefully con-
idorod
senator Lindsay held tha. III. CLAYTON
Bulwcr Treaty was still Of binding effect
m" Hay -Pauncnfo.e Treaty modified 1t
cry materially, and 10 that ey'ont. 10 sa'd,
20 approved Of IT, Tho new treaty gave tho
nited Sta,os tho right 10 build and control
he canal absolutely. whi,h was denied by
he old treaty. II removed the possibility |
Z Great Britain as partner. but Mr. Lindsay
lrced that ii did not go far enough lie
hought the Clayton-RGlwer Treaty ought
o have hceu abrogated bome tirne ago, when |
he British Government was willing to do |
'nythng To keep on friendly relations with
his Government Hs declared that he
hought Great Britain was still willing To do
his. and that proposition from this Govern
nent 20 ahrogatc that old trenty would he
avorably received by the British Govern
urnt
Senator Money spoke briefly In defence
y an amendment that would give the United
states the right TO defend the canal II It
ieened such defence necessary. he declared
lis opposition To anv kind OF a treaty that
Nd not give this right TO the United State,
l am for an American canal American
rom the foundation up" said Mr.. Money.
II We are To put into this work the money
I American people. then IL should be a canal
'vned, controlled operated and defended
~ the Government. 1t should 10 for tho
ise Of the world in time Of peace and for the
exclusive use of the United States In time
y wa', as against any nation that was at
var with US That is the kind Of canal
want and The only kind OF a canal ! shall
'ote Tor. Great Britain has no right Of part
ler ship and the American people will not I