New-York tribune., 1900-12-06
fBy TELEGRAPH 10 TIE TRIBUSE.l


1opeE-ASENDMENT LOSING SUPPORT.
ny TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRBUNEl
washington. Dec. 5-The opinion is gaining
.-ouud in the Senate that the Hay-Pauncefote
r-estv. which the Republican Steering Commit
% has put next TO the Shipping bin on the list
y measures 10 be disposed OF al this session.
rfu be acted on without much further delay or
,,,.ention The so-caIled Davis amendment
,sss-.,ng the right OF the United States 20 for
srv the canal IN certain emergencies. has 20 be
yotsd on before the treaty itself is ratified re-
ected This amendment has apparently lost
import since the fight was begun 10 incorporate
2 into the convention; for Il is now announced
nat half the members OF the Foreign. Relations
Committee oppose II. among them four Of the
nx Pepublicans. Messrs. Frye. CuIom. Foraker
Ind wolc ~. Senator Lodge and Senator Clark
y wyoming. stu favor the amendment. as do
Nessrs Daniel Bacon and Money. Democrats
But the weight OF opinion IN the committee IN
sines against the torttfcation proviso. and as a
majority vote is alone required 10 defeat IT,
mere is by no means as strong probability as
seretofOre that Il can be attached 70 the original
instrument. Should the Davis amendment fal,
he fate of the treaty would stin be somewhat
soubtful. But there can be no doubt that il has
Fsined greatly IN strength with the general
clearing up OF the canal situation In the Central
A-re-4ran republics which recent negotiations
have disclosed and emphasized.
DEBATE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The executive session OF the Senate to-day was
devoted 10 consideration OF the treaty. The
treaty and amendment were read az the instance
bf Senator Lodge, who took charge on behalf Of
the Foreign Relations Committee. He made
speech in explanation Of the treaty, ard urged
IT'S speedy ratification as necessary preliminary
10 consideration Of the Nicaragua Canal bill.
Senator Beveridge asked whether il was not
true that the abrogation OF the Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty, as provided for IN the pending treaty
would have the effect OF permitting Great
Britain to acquire property in the area
affected. Senator Lodge replied in the negative
saying Il was well known that the Hay-Paunce-
fo:e Treaty. wkile abrogating the Clayton-Bui-
wer Treaty so far II applies 10 the UniteA
States and binds this country. still leaves Eng
land bound by SITS terms. For this reason he
was sure there need be no apprehension on
that score.
Senator Lodge discussed tAe amendment that
none OF the provisions OF the first hve sections
of the treaty should be construed as applying
70 measures which the United States may hnd
Il necessary 70 take for securing by its own
forces the defence OF the United States and the
maintenance OF public order" He argued that
this amendment had the effect OF giving great
er assurance 10 the United States, and was a
necessary safeguard
Mr. LINDSAY ON THE AMENDMENT.
At this point Senator Lindsay. OF Kentucky
interjected a question. and in doing so made
a statement as 70 what he considered popular
rnisapprehensioa as 70 the effect OF the amend
rnent. Z find" he said. that most people ap-
pear TO think that this Amendment provides for
the fertilization Of the canal. whereas it does
nothing Of the kind. as q reading Of il viii
49, 49,
rnent, showing that II applied specifically only TO
Sections /. 2 8. 4 ana Of Article II OF the
treaty He asserted that it provides only in
general way FOR the protection OF the rlgnts OF
the United states He called attehuoh ,Ii 20 m
fact thaa while the Treaty Of Constanunoples
applying 20 The SueZ Canal, had been used as
the basis % the pending treaty, only the first
seven articles hac been incorporated II the
FaK~P ~Psuncefote agreement leaving out Article
X of that agreement which gives 10 the Govern
rzlenr OF Egypt the right 10 defend the interests
% that country in connection with the Suez
Replying. Senator Lodge said ne had not con-
tended and did not contend that the amend
yneut conferred specifically the power TO fortify
the canal The great benefit OF the amendment
was found, he said, in the fact that II appies
10 the first section copied from the Constant
nopie agreement, providing that the canal 'shall
be free and open in time OF war. as in time OF
peace, 10 the vessels OF commerce ana OF war
os ali nations" The amendment he further
SAID was substantially in the language OF Ar
ticle Y Of the Constautinople Treaty, and there
poses intended 10 be subserved by that article
with reference 70 the SueZ Canal.
Mr. LODGE URGES PROMPT ACTION.
IN conclusion, he urged early action on the
treaty as OF great importance, because OF the
general desire 20 go on with the Nicaragua
Canal legislation. He did not, however. indicate
any time for taking vote on either the treaty
or the committee amendment.
Senator zs5uty. OF Mississippi, made brief
speech IN general opposition 10 the treaty, but
indicating that he might vote for IL II the
amendment was retained, though not satisfied,
be said thar the amendment would make the
document entirely satisfactory. On the whole.
he thought the United States would best pro-
note its own interests by proceeding 10 construct
the canal without asking the aid or consent o.
E.ly other country.
Severs. comparatively unimportant treaties
with other countries. chiefly South American,
were LAID before the Senate and referred 10 the
Committee on Foreign Relations Some OF them
were reciprocity treaties and others eXtracitlon
agreements. one CT them was a reciprocity
agreement with Ecuador and another treaty
with Denmark providing reciprocity with the
Island % Santa Cruz
Later IN the day q second executive session
was held hut no business was transacted be-
yond the reference OF several nominations TO
ne proper committees
COST OF NICARAGUA CANAL