The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-06

Hand aud Fall Control of the Pro
posed Nicaragua CunaI--AbsoInteN eu
traIity Alone Guaranteed.
Washington, Feb. 5.-The Hay
Pauncefote treaty, amendatory of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, relative to the
construction of the Nicaragua canal
was signed at the state department to-
day by Secretary Hay for the United
States, and the Right Hon. Lore
Pauncefote of Preston, for Great Brit
ain. Though the ceremony occupied
some time, owing to the necessity OF
comparing the two drafts, there was
very little formality. There We're pres
ent besides Secretary Hay and Lord
Pauncefote, only Mr.. Bromley honor
airy attache of the British embassy and
prospective son-in-laW of Lord Paunce-
fote; Sidney Smith, chief of the diplo-
matte bureau, and William GWinn, the
messenger to the department, who plac-
ed the seals upon this convention.
Mr.. Smith afterwards carried the
freshly signed treaty to the White
house, where the letter of transmittal
was signed by the president so that the
treaty could be despatched at once to
the United States senate for ratifica-
ton. The letter of transmittal was
purely formal, simply commencing the
treaty to the senate without entering
upon any argument to demonstrate its
great value.
Secretary Hay declined to make pub
lie the text of the treaty or even to
make any statement as to it's details,
holding. that courtesy to the senate
obliged him to remain silent until the
senate itself removed the seal of con-
fidence from the convention. So that
all that is now known of this conven-
tion is that it amends the Clayton Bull
wer treaty Of 1850 in such manner that
Great Britain yields to the United States
the right to construct the Nicaraguan
canal or a canal at any other point on
the isthmus without British participa-
ton. Most sof the other features in the
Clayton Buwer t'eaty are retained.
This ia notably tue of article No. s,
which guarantees the absolute neutral
ity of any canal, and the security of
the capital invested. 1t is understood
that the United States continues upon
itself this obligation to maintain the
naturalization of the canal, which shall
ae forever open and free. 1t is also be-
lieved that the treaty looks to an inter-
national undertaking on this point.
Because the requirements of interna-
tional courtesy would in nowise be OBJ
served, it is expected that the senate
will not make the convention public be-
fore tomorrow and on this point there
has been some understanding between
Secretary Hay and the British govern
ment.
This treaty was arranged between
Secretary Hay and Lord Pauncefote,
who are the principals, and who mani
Tested that fact by signing the treaty.
Possibly the fact that the first news of |
the success of the attempt to reach an |
agreement on this important subject |
came from London wae the ground for
the belief in some quarters that the
were all conducted there.
AS soon as the treaty is ratified and
the ratifications have been exchanged, |
the United States will be at liberty to
proceed at once with the construction of
the isthmian canal unfettered by any
toward Great Britain save
that of allowing to British citizens as
to the citizens of other nations, the use
of the canal on the same terms with
American citizens. Possibly this might
have been done without to-day's treaty
for the question as to whether or not
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty is still alive,
has been a subject of controversy for
many years, and many able minds have
taken opposite sides. But the present
is convinced that the
treaty Is still in force
and it felt itself bound by the most
sacred obligatio to live up to the
treaty as long as it stood unchanged
and desiring to amend 1t, resorted to
the only honorable means in its judg-
ment to realize it.
There is absolutely no quid pro quo
offered to Great Britain in this treaty
IN return for the valuable concessions
% the United States. Whatever return
he United States may choose to make
S thing of the future.
SURPRISE CAUSED IN LONDON
London Feb. 5.--While the publica-
ion of the despatch from Washington
egarding the anrfulling of the Clayton
3ulwer Nicaragua canal treaty and
for it the Hay-Pauncefote
realty caused considerable surprise, 1t !
vas fully confirmed at the foreign Of !
Ice. 1t is intended to publish the terms
+ the new convention in Washington
nd London simultaneously, but, the c
impression exists that it will first be .
iven to the senate though it is be- I
eyed it contains nothing of Importance l
ot included in the Associated Press
despatch, which is declared Y
B be correct in every particular. The I
pparent celebrity in reaching an agree ~
lent is explained by the fact that the ~
hole matter was practically settled d
etween Secretary Hay and Ambassa-
Or Pauncefote in $685. and had not the v
.laska dispute cropped up il is proba- 9
lie the powers would have signed the
invention. Since then in consequence y
{ it it has been in allegiance. About
fortnight ago, in consequence of the
ttitude of the senate, Joseph H.
hoate, United States ambassador here, t.
eceived instructions to endeavor to h
ress the conclusion of the old negotia- a
ons AS a result of his efforts the t.
rittsh cabinet considered the matter ta
fter first having submitted the conven- el
40 ;,ri,,r he |