The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-18

Washington, December 1.-THE sem
ate committee On foreign relations to-
day held a special meeting and decided
TO recommend further amendments OF
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. The COM
mittee adopted an amendment suggest
ed by enato Foraker. which declared
that the Hay-Pauncefote treaty super
sedes the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. and
also strikes out of the Hay-Paunce-
fote agreement Article III. which per-
mits the submission of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty to other powers and
invites their acceptance of it.
Unless amended beyond any degree
proposed in the senate by the respon-
sible leaders, and resolved into such
form as to make il an absolute dis
courteous matter to De communicated,
the pending Hay-Pauncefote treaty
will be submitted to the British gov
eminent by the president. The COM
munication will be purely pro forma,
for the administration has not the
slightest idea that the convention will
be accepted by the British government.
Amy expectation that the action of
the senate yesterday upon the Davis
amendment to the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty would result in immediate re-
tirement of Secretary Hay from the
cabinet Is negatived by the fact that
the secretary has not resigned, and,
according to his on statement, will not
leave the cabinet at present.
The action of the committee on for
eign relations tool place after a pro-
tonged conference of senator's especial
ly interested in the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty at which the Foraker amend
ment was suggested as meeting all the
objections.
1t was stated that the committee had
been unanimous in it's action with the
exception of Senator Money, who OPP
posed any action except the absolute
and unconditional abrogation of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty. hat result is
accomplished by the amendment re-
ported today, but the Mississippi sem
ator would have this done through
other means han the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty.
The president and Secretary Hay
consulted with reference to the advis-
ability of further amending the treaty
by Senators Lodge and Foraker who
called upon them before going Ito the
capitol today.
When the senate went into executive
session Senator Lodge reported the two
amendments agreed upon in commit
tee. The first inserts the words (which
is hereby superseded after the words
CEdy CI CdN III IL hASe
paragraph of Article IL of the treaty.
The second strikes out Article III OF
the treaty reading as follows:
The high contracting 1--WE will
Immediately upon the exchange of the
notifications of this convention. bring ii
to the notice of the other powers and
invite them to adhere to it,"
Senator Lodge made an effort TO ave
a day set for taking a vote upon the
treaty. but did not succeed in getting
the unanimous consent necessary.
nate Lodge stated. however. that
he should press the treaty early and
late until q vote could be had, and he
afterwards declined to move an ad-
jOurnment from today until Monday
becaus of the refusal to allow day
to be named for a vote.
Aside from these incidents the execu-
tive session was devoted wholly tC
speech-making.
Senator Culberson's view was to have
the treaty laid aside and the Hepburn
canal bill passed regardless of tbs
treaty.
Senator Spooner said that he could
not accept the view that we should
proceed in the great work in total dis
gard of the existence of the agreemen
of 1850. Great Britain. he said, is {
friendly power and he would not con
sent to any ruthless proceedings. HI
said that Great Britain on three differ
ent occasions had approached thf:
country to secure the a~brogation of th'
Clayton-Bulwer treaty. n United
States declining the o~vertureS.
Senator Lindsay spoke of the ratih
cation of the treaty without furthe
amendment, saying that he was for i
because he considered some agreemen
with Great Britain a necessary prece
dent of the canal.
Senator McCumher also favored rati
fcation of the treaty without amend
ment.
Senator Elkins reiterated his view
for absolutely independent action