The Lamar register., 1900-02-14
BRITISH CONCESSIONS.

] OF the United states Inc Presebt az
ministration has secured more In this
line than any of its predecessors, and
has proved that 1t is abundantly able
TO protect the interests of our country,
and to advance those interests, when
they conflict with the claims OF Great
Britain.
The Alaska boundary was a matter
that required the most careful hand
ling. The British were extremely anx-
ious to obtain port In what had been
regarded as part OF our Alaskan ter
ritory. They set up a claim as to the
Interpretation Of the Russian treaty by
which this country got title 10 Alaska
which would have given them access
10 the sea. and made it unnecessary for
them to send goods through United
States territory to the KlondlRe. The
negotiations We're long and difficult
principally because Of the uncompron-
isinE attitude of Canada. At Last,
however. the matter was settled. pend
ing a final award by the adoption Of a
line OF division between the British and
American possessions which retained
for this country the coast line intact
Some weeks age after the beginning
Of the British-Boer war, certain car
goes of American four-not carried,
however, in American ships-were
seized by the British in East African
waters, on the ground thar they were
supplies for the Beers, and confrahand
Of war Representations were made at
once TO the British government, stating
that Ils country could not allow that
such Largoes were contrahand. and de
mandIng redress. After much discus
sion. our claim WIS allowed In full
the British government gave up the
principle for which they had been con-
tending. and the owners OF the nour
Will be COMPENSATED, nOt only for the
cost OF the carCoes. but for what would
be reasonable profit thensOu. Our ad-
ministration In this case not only OBJ
tanned release OF the cargoes, and com
pensation for their seizure, but also es-
tabIished an important principle OF In
ternatioual law, which viii be snyalu-
able in future
The latest ease OF British concession
Is perhaps even more important than
either OF the other two mentioned. The
Clayton Bulwer treaty has been modi-
fed SO that this government has now
the undisputed right TO acquire what
.,-a, .sr,3tg-.- {r ranFr-,I AunnFfF-l may
be necessary 10 insure our control OF
the Nicaragua canal when II Is built.
This treaty. made in 1880 has hereto
fore been the great obstacle TO the
building OF the Nicaragua canal by our
government, and TO our control and
operation OF it when built The treaty
provided for a Joint control Of such
waterway when built, and bound neIth-
er power to acquire territory in Cen
traI America Those who have studied
the question most deeply have come to
the unanimous conclusion that when
the canal Is built, 1t should BE- under
government auspices. and the control
absolutely in the hands Of our govern
4AltallA At@AAE-AAA -AtNAAGEf t4AtANAtaf
directed his efforts to the obtaining OF
a modification OF the treaty which
would allow this to be done; and he
has succeeded admirably. AS noted in
the Associated Press dispatches, Great
Britain obtains no 'quid pro quo" for
the concessions made by her In this
case, voluntarily relinquishIng what
ever rights she had to joint control OF
the canal, and whatever objections she
had to the acquisition by our govern
ment Of territory in Central America
necessary 10 operate ard control the
canal.
A concerted campaign is now in prog
ress by the Democratic and PopuIist
press Of the country to arouse opposi-
ton to the administration on the ground
that IL is In alliance with Great Brit
ain. No such alliance has been made,
nor can be made without the knowl-
edge OF the United States Senate: and
there is no desire for such an alliance
either by the Republican party or any
of its responsible representatives. The
Democratic press, however, partly by
Misrepresentation and partly by direct
ly lying, hopes to raise a prejudice