The Portland daily press., 1900-04-06

THE CANAL TREATY.
Senators Want 1t
Amended.
To Give United States Rights in Case
Of War.
Sen. Morgan Favors
Treaty Unchanged.
Chairman Davis Argues In Its
Favor.

Warrington, April 5.-on motion OF
Senator Davis, the Senate today consid-
dsred the Hay -Pauneefote treaty for the
modification Of the Clayton Batwsr
treaty behind closed doors. About thrss
hours were spent In discussing the amend
ments to the treaty made BY the senate
committee on foreign relations providing
that one OF the conditions and stipu-
lasions In sections I, Q. 3. and 8 OF arti-
ole 3, shall apply 10 measures which the
United states may flnd necessary 10 take
for securing, BY Its own forces. the de-
fenss of the United States and the main
tsnanoe of public order"
Senator Davis opened the debate with
q general statement In support OF the
treaty, but directed his remarks sspeci-
ally towards the explanation Of the COM
mittse amendment. He stated that In
all other essential respects the pending
treaty WAS similar to the treaty Of Con-
stantinopls entered into In connection
with the Suez. For some reason. hsw-
ever. the provision permitting the United
States to defend Its properly was omit
ted.
This omission was palpable error
Senator Morgan the only member OF ehe
committee on foreign relations who DID
not concur In the amendment made the
principal speech In opposition to It, He
consumed the greater part OF the sxscn-
tive session, MIR. Davis's speech being
comparatively brief
senator Lodge made plea for the
amendment, saying that however great
xvn In N M - a.
OF neutrality and mutual understanding
among nations, We should take into con-
sideration the possibility OF future de-
tanRlements and lose no opportunity to
make provision for safeguarding. our In
tsrests in all oxigsnoies that might arise.
senator MoTgan's speech was plea
for neutrality As the best guarantees OF
the safety and usefulness Of the canal.
he said Ii was to be q highway for the
commerce Of the nation and that the
proposed amendment not only would
fail to provide for its protection. but
Nd light be the means OF caasing oompt-
cations whichever could arise II the
ditions. he oontendend, were entirsly
dissl nsilar from these connected with the
Suez canal. Turkey possessing territory
In the immediate vicinity OF that canal
and the United States have no such pos
sessions within thousands OF miles OF
t00 pTOpOBcu NlOnEbkdAN o1nAAs AAo th#AC-
fere thought the restriction superfuous
and Indicated q disposition tU grant to
Great Britain power over US which that
country did not attempt to assert.
He also contsndsd against the necessity
TOR the prscAu tionary measure, arguing
hat in case of war we would take pos
session OF the canal without any previous
agreement TO that effect. Asked by Sena-
tor Mason II he thought 1t would be con-
sistsnt on the part Of Great Britain to
fortify jam sica and still prevent our
fortifyinG tine mouth Of the canal, Mr..
Morgan replied that the neutrality pro-
vision only extended to the three mile
limit and not TO place 80 distant as
jamaica Qualifications of outlying pos
sessions he said were constantly RoiLg on
and tbs good faith of no nation could
be attacked because Of them.
During the controversy Senator VOL
colt asked several questions indicating
his opposition to the amendment. while
Ssnator Mason by ths same course indi-
Dated his opposition TO the treaty without
the amendment. Neither Of them how
gVer, made any affirmative statement.
At the close of Senator Morgan's speech
the Senate returned to the confederation
of legislative business, no one being
prepared to speak on the treaty