The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-18
a Charge Against Mr.. Hay.

Under an agreement reached IN the Sen
ate yesterday. voting without debate viii
begin on the several proposed amendments
to the -Pauncefote Treaty at 3 o'clock
2. n. on Thursday next; the voting to
proceed until all have been disposed of and
the final vote taken.
As We have repeatedly discussed the
pending amendments in these columns in
detail. it is unnecessary 10 go over that
ground again at this time There does not
seem to be the least chance that the meas
IRE viii leave the Senate, If ratified at all,
without being SO radically and essentially
changed that it viii be of no further use
10 whatever political or other interests are
behind its original text and purposes. Al
most beyond any possible question il wiz
declare the supersession Of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty, the right of the United
States TO fortify and defend the Nicaragua
Canal, and to close the same in time OF
war against its enemies; and it VIII omit
the article providing for control of the
waterway by Great Britain and the Con-
cert Of Europe.
Foreign interest in the grave issue which
is pending In the United States Senate is
becoming active as it is seen that a deeis-
ion is about to be reached. and, as might
be expected. the matter is receiving much
attention at the hands Of the British press.
We are considerably impressed with q
statement printed today in a despatch from
the English editor. Mr.. Stead, 10 the New
York Journal in which that gentleman
discIaims any initial desire on the part of
his Government to deny to the United
States the right to fortify and defend its
own property. He explicitly asserts that
the originator of that proposition was the
American Secretary of State. and that Lord
Salisbury merely accepted II, as it was evil
IDENTIFY basic natter in whatever scheme
Of diplomacy NJ. Hay was working. and
one which did MT Interfere with British
views CT interests. we have accepted
it, says Nj Stead, from Mr.. Secretary
Hay. who for reasons Of state into which
it Is not necessary to enquire, wished the
treaty to be drawn in that shape"
1t should be said. ia justice to Mr.. Nc
Kinley's Foreign Minister. that Mr.. Stead
is perhaps not the best authority in the
world on matters pertaining to the secret
purposes or processes of Her Majesty's
Government At this time he is in Eu-
rope, and at The Hague in conference
with President Kruger, in prosecution Of
an avowedly pro-Boer mission Hence it
is fair to assume, remembering his atti-
tude toward his home authorities for
year or more past, that he is not specially
in the confidence of Lord Salisbury. We
desire this fact 20 be noted, in connection
with a clflrge which. If true, would rem
der Mr.. Hays position in the premises so
indicate and embarrassing that his rese
ignation ought to be rendered or, If not
rendered. peremptoriIy demanded.
Being charitably minded toward the Sec
rotary of state. We have inclined to the
theory that, like other documents puz,-
porting to emanate from our State De-
partment, but in reality carefully pre-
pared in the British Foreign Office, the
proposed Hay-Pauncefote Convention was
handed to Mr.. Hay in the form it reached
the Senate, aud that under social and 9th
er pressure to which the Administration
has been regularly in the habit of yielding,
it was accepted by the President and
passed along without much thought and
no investigation. But, if the charge
made by Mr.. Stead can be sustained the
affair must take on a much more serious
and astonishing aspect. Except upon proof
which cannot be gainsaid. We are unwiH-
ing to believe that an American in zir.
Hays position would deliberately and
gratuitously invite the military contra of
Great Britain over an American CaEaI,
built, paid for. owned, and operated by the
American people, as againsg their Coz
eminent.
still the charge has been made and
must be met in some way. The Senate
Will be remiss in its duty If the stead
statement is not thoroughly and vigor-
ously investigated Mr. Hays position
viii probably be considered by him as
preeiuding anything like voluntarv pub
lie RECITATION or explanation; bat di-
rect request for one OF the ether from the
Senate would relieve him from that eu-