The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-10
TO AMEND THE CANAL TREATY.
SENATE COMMITTEE LOOKING OFT
For SELF-DEFENSE,

Public Order'-Same as in the Suez
Canal Treaty - Senator Morgan
Makes 81 Minority Report.
Washington March 9.-The Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations to-day
reported the Hay -Pauncefote treaty to the
Senate with an amendment reserving 20
this country the right to defend the canal
in case of war.
The amendment merely places a hmita-
ton upon the restrictions in article two,
and is as follows:
Insert al the end of section five, article
one the following:
1T is agreed however, that none of
the Immediately foregoing conditions ami
stipula tions in sections numbered 1. 2. g.
and of this article shall apply to
measures which the United States may
find il necessary to take for securing by
its own force the defense of the United
States and the maintenance of public or
der"
The conclusion to report the treaty with
this amendment was reached after a ses-
sion of the committee, in which Senator
Morgan very strenuously opposed the
riIlShNihNht. ne was iiONtNtT, the Only
senator in opposition, Senators Bacon and
Daniel, the other Democratic members Of
the committee, voting with the Repub-
lican members of the committee for the
amendment and then for resolution to
report.
The report was made to the Senate at
all executive session which came later in
the day. The presenta tion of the treaty
10 the committee was accompanied by
written report, giving reasons for the
amendment and also in support of the
treaty as whole.
Later in the DAY Senator Morgan filed a
minority report in opposition to the
amendment.
England VIII Likely Agree.
While no member was authorized to
speak for Great Britain, the opinion was
expressed that the government of that
country would agree 10 the proposed mod
ification Of the treaty.
The report submitted with the treaty is
in the main, review of the general stu
alton with reference to the canal with
comparatively few recommended tons. 1t
says, however:
I'VE are in full accord with the purpose
expressed in article two of the pending
convention to adopt as the basis of neu-
tralizaton the indicated rules subs tantial-
ly as embodied in the treaty of Constan-
tinople for the free navigation of the Suez
maritime canal"
The report then makes an analysis of
the Suez canal treaty, laying special stress
upon article 10, which the report says pre-
scribes limitation of the utmost import
ance upon the stpulations.
That article is quoted entire and the re-
port continues:
mo equivalent limitations are specifical-
ly expressed in the convention now under
consideration.
Compared to Suez Canal.
"The committee think it prudent" the
report continues, "that all doubt be remoy-
ed by an amendment equivalent in its
substance and effect to the precedent Of
fered by article 10 of the treaty of Con-
stantinople. which it cannot be supposed
was intended to have no place in the pend
Ing convention. If it was proper that the
treaty of Constantinople should not In
terfere with the measures which the Sui
tan and khedive might find ID necessary
10 take for securing by their own forces
the defense Of Egypt and the mainten-
ance of public order or if it was proper
that the provision of the enumerated ar
ucles of that treaty should in no case
occasion any obstacle to the measures
which the imperial Ottoman government
may think it necessary to take in order
hs own possessions situated on the east
ern coast of the Red sea- surely the stu
aton Of the United STATES on both occa-
sions and as to the territory to be occu-
pied by the canal itself, requires the in
corporation into the pending convention
OF stpulatiOns equivalent to those in Ar
ucle 10 OF the Convention of Constantine
pie.
III it was deemed wise TO reserve to the
ottoman empire the right to suspend the
operation of The treaty in certain specified
contingencies 10 defend by it's own forces
Egypt, and maintain public order and to
secure by its own forces the defense Of
lts other possessions situated on the east
ern coast of the Red sea- a coast 1,100
niles In fength, with Turkish possessions
IN both coasts OF nearly 600C00 square
miles, inhabited by 12.0O0O0O of It's sub
Jecis in Egypt and in the provinces Of
HedJose and Yemen, on the eastern coast
OF the Red sea, the same considera tons
IN principle sustain the contention that the
pending treaty should contain equiva ent
supulations
Even that If Article 10 did not exist.
the true interests and necessity of the
nited States require upon the highest
considerations of prudence and right the
adoption cf The amendment proposed"
MOrgan's Minority Report.
Senator Morgan in his minority report
SAYS that the extreme contention has
tesn that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty is
NloIabe at our opticn. Not having exercls-
ed that option "the treaty is confessedly
conclusive as to ;he parts of the agree
nent that have been executed and is op-
eIative as TO the PARIS that remain in
heu"
He says that Great Britain never init
mated any contention Of conflict between
the concessions and the Clayton Bulwer
treaty He invites attention to the fact
bp 1ty,r, f1 fS.,- H.
purpose Of removing any objection that
may arise out of the former treaty to the
construction of the canal, without i'm
pairing the general principle of neutraliza-
uon established in article of that con-
Hehtion That general principle" the
senator says, is all that is left of the
CIayton-Bulwer treaty, all others remain
ing being removed by article l of the pend
lng treaty He argues that under this ar
ucle "Great Britain confers no right on