The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-14
THE SENATE DISCUSSES THE CLAYTON
BULWER TREATY.
VERY DIVERGENT VIEWS TAKEN
As to the Status of Our Relations with
England Under This Treaty and It's
Bearing Upon the Construction of an
Canal-EHect Upon 1t of h
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty and the Pro-
posed Committee Amendment There
TO Discussed.

Washington, december 1.-THE SEN
ate spent almost five hours today in ex-
ecutive session, considering h Hay
Pauncefote reaty There were five or
six speeches made. Senator Morgan
elaborated somewhat his position as to
the effect of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
He took issue with Senator Teller as to
the purport Of the first CLAUSE of that
treaty, claiming that it applied only to
Great Britain's right to fortify the
Nicaragua canal itself.
Senator Teller replied at some length,
asserting that the provision was of
more general import, as. he said, any
one could ascertain for himself by read
ing President Buchanan's views upon
the subject when he was minister to
- england. The declaration then made
showed plainly, he said, that England
had attempted to extend her right be-
yond the immediate vicinity of the ca
nal. Senator Teller repeated his dec
laration that the United States should
construct the canal, if at all, regardless
of the English position and without go
ing through the formality of ratifying
the pending treaty.
During the day speeches. were made
by Senators Money, Stewart, Frye and
others.
Senator Stewart that he
was for the treaty without
and Senator Money that he was agalnSt
the treaty in any form. He wanted the
canal built as much as any senator
could, he said, but he considered the
pending treaty nothing less than an
insult to the intelligence of the Amerl-
can people. He had no doubt tn It il
proper diplomatic efforts should be
made it would be possible to secure the
complete a~brogation of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, and that was what he
wanted. He did not, indeed, believe
the people of this country would be
satisfied SO long as any veStige of that
remained among existing
~ernation obligations. The conVen-
ton, he said, is contrary to the wishes
of the people of the United states and
they could be satisfied only by DEFINITE
ly erasing it once and forever. There
also should be new conventions between
the United States and Nicaragua anC
Costa RIGA, giving absolute control o.
the waterway ito this country. III
wanted no partnerships with any coun
try in ownership or management OF tn
canal when built.
The possibility OF Secretary Hay
signin in case the foreign relation
committee amendment to the treat.
should prevail having been alluded to
Senator Frye said he was in position Il
make official denial of that report
The secretary had no such intention.
senator Frye announced himself a
favorable to the Hay-PauncefOte tred
ty. He said that DEM the effect of tn
Clayton-BulWer treat as much as W
may, it still is on the International re
cords of this country and is given NOR
or less recognition by every admins
tration that has TO deal with the queS
ton of the construction of an isthmia-
canal. 1t had been a constant sourc
of ~vexation in connection with the ca
nal subject, and he apprehended tina
it would continue to be such until tina
portion of it relating to the cana
should be disposed Of. He was salts
fed, for instance, that the canal woul
have been constructed during the ad
ministratiOn of President Arthur il tn
old negotiation had not been in exist
ence.
Senator Chandler asked Senator Fry
to make Secretary Hays position wit
reference to ~resigning public, but tn
Maine Senator declined, saying that n
was only authorized to make the state
ment to the senate.
Seator retorted hat to d
that was equivalent to giving it to tn
public and the senate then lapSed int
a discussion of the ways in which thei
executive secrets get into the newspa
pers.