New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-05
HISTORY OF THE TREATY.
MADE TO PREVENT EUROPEAN INTER
VENTION IN AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

| VENTION IN AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
The Clayton -Bulwer Treaty was concluded
April Is. 1850, with the object of expediting the
construction of Isthmian canal, and by pre-
venting the establishment of colonies in Central
! America TO insure the neutrality of the water
way. 1t was negotiated when the United States
| had neither the power to enforce the doctrine of
non-intervention by European nations in Amer
| ican affairs and prevent further European
encroachments in South and Central America,
nor the wealth to build the canal alone. The
| treaty was virtually q bid for the support of
| Englands fleet TO command the respect of Cont-
mental Europe for the cardinal principle OF
American continental policy. and it was prac-
tical guarantee for the inducement Of British
capitalists to invest in the canal business
| enterprise.
| The acquisition of California in 1S4S and the
vast rush of population which followed almost
| Immediately the discovery OF gold. made
the opening OF interoceanc communication a
matter of paramount Importance to the United
! States. right Of transit over the Isthmus of
Panama had been granted to the United States
| by the treaty with New-Granada. the country
which assumed the name OF Colombia In 1862.
and under the shelter of this treaty the
Panama Railroad Company, composed Of citi-
zens OF the United States. organized in
1850 and prosecuted its operations with such
vigor that it's line between the oceans began
operation in 1865.
WHY ENGLISH AID WAS ASKED.
Before this company had organized. however
In 1S49. the United States had entered into a
convention with Nicaragua for the opening of a
ship canal from Greytown, on the Atlantic to the
Pacific Coast by way of Lake Nicaragua. Grey
town was at the time virtually occupied by
British settlers. mostly from Jamaica, and the
whole eastern coast of Nicaragua, far at
least the terminus of such canal con-
cerned, held according to the contention of
Great Britain. by the Mosquito Indians over
whom the British asserted a protectorate. That
there was never any valid warrant for this pre-
tension effectually demonstrated six years
ago, when, with the aid of the United States
Nicaragua successfully asserted her sovereignty
over Bluehelds and the neghboring territory But
in 1916 the United States not as we'll pre-
pared to-day to command the worlds com
plete respect, and the fear that an attempt to
force a canal through the Mosquito country
might precipitate war induced President Tay-
lor's Secretary of State. John NJ Clayton, to ask
England to abandon her pretensions so as to
permit the construction OF the canal under the
joint auspices OF the United States and Nicara-
qua. The British Government under Lord John
RusseTs administration, Sir Henry Bulwer be-
ing its Minister at Washington, declined to en-
a treaty for joint protectorate over the pro-
posed work
TERMS OF THE TREATY
Out of this grew the Clayton -Bulwer Treaty.
of which the first and chief article is as follows:
Article l. The Governments of the United
States and Of Great Britain hereby declare that
neither the one nor the other will obtain
or maintain for itself any exclusive control over
the said ship canal: agreeing that neither will
ever erect or maintain any Notifications COM
manding the same. or In the vicinity thereof or
occupy, or fortify. colonize. or assume or ex-
ercise any dominion Nicaragua. Costa
Rica, the Mosquito Coast. or any part of Central
America; nor will either make use of any pro-
lection which either affords or may afford or
any ainance which either has, may have, to,
or with. any State people for the purpose of
erecting or maintaining any such fortifcations
or of occupying. fortifying or colOnizng Ncara- ,
qua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast or any
part or Central America, Of assuming or ex-
ercsing dominion over the same: nor will the
United States or Great Britain take advantage
OF any intimacy. or use any alliance. connection
or influence. that either may possess with any
state or Government through whose territory
the said canal may pass. for the purpose of ac-
quring or holding. directly or indirectly for the
citizens or subjects Of the one. any rights or
advantages In regard to commerce or navigation
through the said canal which shall not be offered
on the same terms to the citizens or subjects OF
the other.
Article III provided that in case OF war be-
tween the contracting parties. vessels OF either
traversing the canal should be exen,pt from
blockade. detention or capture by the other In
Article III the United States and Great Britain
guaranteed the builders OF the canal against
unjust treatment by Nicaragua, and In Article
IV they undertook to exert their influence TO in
duce Central American States having 1urisdic-
uon to facilitate the canals construction and to
establish free ports at each terminus Article
promised protection OF the canal trafic from
interruption. guaranteed It's neutrality subject
to withdrawing such protection and guarantee
on six months notice; and Articles vi and VII
reiterate the good intentions of the contracting
parties with greater verbosity. for the benefit
Continued on second page
When celas sems; fly to the remedy-