The sun., 1900-12-08
Look Before You Leap'

Look Before You Leap!
There are three points Of considerable
importance demanding the attention OF
those Senators who think that the Hay
Paunoefote Treaty can be so amended
a. to render It unobj jectionable to American
sentiment. These questions have not been
touched upon, so far as we have information
OF proceedings in executive session.
The first may he disposed Of briefly.
Passing beyond the article which the Davis
amendment affects, and which has been
discussed already by the Senate In some OF
its aspects, Senators will find this pro-
vision:
ARTICLE III The high contracting powers will
Immediately upon the exchange OF the rauncations
of thi. convention bring to the notice Of the other
powers and inrfts them 10 odhsrs 10 o."
The seven words here italicized establish
q European concert to supervise our man.
aQement OF an American canal, built
and operated by the United States In the
territory Of American republics. our friends
and neighbors. Even II Mr.. HAY were
justified in maintaining that Great Britain
etiL possesses the right to dictate in mat
ters which otherwise concern only our
selves, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. that
right certainly does not extend to the other
powers OF Europe and TO invite them to
enter upon It is both gratuitous and en-
tangunQ. Adherence to this treaty by
the other nations Of the world will be In
terpreted by them as meaning vastly more
than mere acquiescence in its provisions.
and the time will come when the Monroe
Doctrine will find that out
The second question is perhaps less
clear. The terms of the preamble to Mr..
HAYS proposed treaty recognize the
binding force Of the old Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty. They modify the former conven-
ton In some particulars. but fail to annul
or abrogate 1t as a whole. The question.
then, is whether those stipulations Of the
Clayton Bulwer Treaty which are not af-
fected by the new compact, being revived
by Mr.. HAY and the Senate by the general
recognition OF the validity Of the former
instrument. will not have equal force with
any part Of the present treaty. If that
IL so. we are committed anew to the sub
Joined agreement. contained In Article V.
Of the Clayton-Bulw convention of 1850:
The conuactne parties further engage. that
when the said canal shall have teen completed they
will protect It from interruption, seizure or unjust
eonnscauon and that they will guarantee the neu-
ualty thereof 70 that the said canal may be forever
and free and the capital invested therein secure.
Nevertheless, the Governments OF the United States
and Great Britain. in according their protection to
the construction OF the said canal. and guaranteeing
it, neutrality and security when mpleted aiuaps
undeHand that his protection and guarantee are
granted eondiiional!v and may b Vtthdraun By ooih
Governments, or snhsr Government. II both Govern
ments or sHher Gorsrnmsnt. should deem that the
persons or company Undertaking or managing
the same adopt establish such regulations concern.
ing the tac thereupon as are contrary 10 the spirit
purpose Of this convention. either By making unfair
dscrminations In favor Of one Of the contracting
parties the OF the other or by imposing
oppressive exactons or unreasonable tolls upon the
passengers. vessels. goods wares, merchandise or
other articles Neither party. however. shall with
draw the aforesaid protection and guarantee without
frst giving six months notice 10 the other"
BY the new treaty the United States
Government becomes the persons or COM
pany" managing the canal. II Article V.
Of the Clayton-Buwer Treaty stands other
wise unaffected to all appearances It
does so stand-what Is the result? Why,
that We are now reviving a compact OF Joint
protection and guarantee of neutrality.
from which We can never withdraw, since the
canal is ours. but from which Great Britain.
having no capital invested. can withdraw
at any time on half years notice. simply
by alleging some pretext OF dissatisfaction
with the tolls or any other detail OF man
asement. Who can doubt that the pre-
text would be easily found II at any time
Il became the interest OF Great Britain to
change her attitude toward US and our
canal?
The third and by far the most important
question in its practical bearing upon our
future as a nation. rests upon the same in
evttable suppositon that in ratifyinp the
new agreement the unmodiAed stipula-
tions Of the old treaty are revived and
ratified by the Senate of the Fifty-sixth
Congress.
II the collateral provisions Of the Clayton
Bulwer convention are thus revived and
made binding. among them is that pro-
vision contained in Article / (which prevents
either Great Britain or the United States
from occupying. colonizing or exercising
dominion over any part OF Central America,
now Great Britain has interpreted that
restriction in the past il n story familiar 10
our readers. Her persistent and defiant
violation Of the agreement Is the ground
upon which Republican and Democratic
statesmen alike, including Mr.. BLAINE,
M fRELlNGHuYsEN. Mr.. EvARTs and JOHN
oHERMAN. all of whom have held the post
now adorned by the Hon. JouN HAYS
presence, have al different times declared
'ne Clayton -Bulwer Treaty to be defunct,
ana TINS Government legally and morally
discharged from all and every Of its en-
aeencnts stated in that convention. We
not say that she would not keep the
cement next time What we do
nat no treaty is now required |