The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-07
VIEWS OF THE NEW TREATY.
ENEMIES OF THE CANAL HAVE
LOST THEIR THUNDER.

the New Treaty.
Washington, Feb. 6.-Public interest here
clusters around the new treaty between
the United States aud Great Bfilaln,
which is intended to remove all obstacles
supposed to be in the way of the construc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal by the Unit
ed States government
The text of the Pauncefote treaty
which supersedes the Clayton -Bulwer
treaty was published this afternoon, ana
tonight its provisions are better under
stood by senators who, earlier in the day,
were disposed to oppose its ratification.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions will pass upon the treaty al its
meeting tomorrow and the indications
point to early ratification by the Senate.
The opinion prevails in the COMMITTEES
that the state department has secured i'm
portant concessions from Great Britain.
but as a matter of fact the treaty as sign
ed simply reflects what has been known
to be the British position for some time.
While there has been much talk of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty in England, the
British government has simply contended
Takes Away the Excuse.
The new treaty is important principally
because 1t removes an excuse which some
of those favoring delay in Nicaraguan
canal construction have been able to hold
up. They have talked of the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty as If it had real substance,
when, in reality, it has never stood N
the way. Now these same people who
have been making that old treaty an ex-
cuse for delaying legislation, are trying to
make a mountain out of the provision in
the new treaty, which says there shall be
no fortifcations erected on the canal or
it's approaches. 1t is not probable, how
ever that they will be able to hold up
ratification for any length of time or that
they can prevent early action upon the
canal bill.
The fact is that the prospects for the
Nicaragua canal are brighter to-day than
they have ever been because the last ex-
cuse of those who have worked for delay
has been wiped away.
Senator Morgan Is Happy.
Naturally one of the happiest men in
Congress over the valuable developments
on this line is Senator Morgan, of Ala
bama, who has for so long a time been
devotng himself to the promotion of this
great enterprise.
Il feel perfectly certain" said Sen
ator Morgan. "that it will not be long be-
fore the canal bill passes both branches
of Congress. There is absolutely nothing
in the point made about fortifying the ca
nal The American position has always
been that the canal, however constructed,
must be absolutely neutral ii is to be
built to facilitate the commerce of the
world, and its neutrality will be protected
by treaties between oil the great Pow
ers. There can be no need of any fortifi-
cations. There will be ample protection
against lawIessness which might injure
the canal itself and beyond that it will be
as it should be, free of access to the ma
tions of the world, just as the Suez canal
is. l do not expect to see any serious op-
position to ratification to this new treaty.
l have never believed, however, that the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty stood in the way of
the construction of the canal by this gov
ernment"
AIdrich Takes the Same View.
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island, the
recognized political leader of the Repub-
llcans in the Senate, says he does not
see that there is any substantial force
in the contention made by certain gen
tlemen TO the effect that the treaty should
be amended so as to authorize the United
States to erect permanent fortifcations al
terests.
What is the object" said Senator Aid
rich, "of our great naval esta blishment
If it Is not intended to protect our great
national harbors and waterways. In my
Judgment our great battleships and harbor
defense vessels afford better protection to
the canal and our coast cities generally
than the most formidable fortihcations
that engineering skill can erect. If a hos
tile fleet intended to make war on the
United States st would hardly concentrate
its efforts on the canal. If they could get
near enough to our coast to engage the
Notifications which are proposed to be
erected for the protection of the canal, the
point of attack would probably be in the
vicinity of New York, Boston, Charles
ton, Savannah OF some of the great COM
mercial cities along the coast.
"A careful study of the treaty will dem
onstrate that ample facilities are afforded
for the protection of American interests
and rights in connection with the canal
Besides If, as contemplated, all the ma
tions of the earth sign an agreement to
observe strict neutrality in connection
with the operations of the canal for.
eign Power would hesitate a long while
before violating that agreement An in
ternational agreement of such character
in itself would be the surest protection
that could be devised for the canal for
the nation violating Il would be regarded
and dealt with accordingly by all the
other Powers, parties to the agreements
Therefore, ] do not apprehend any series
opposition to the treaty or any substan-
tal opposition to the construction Of the
canal on the lines of the pending bill"
senator Harris FavOrs 1t.
Senator Harris of Kansas said:
II DO not attach much weight to the
claims that the new treaty should stipu-
late specially that the United States should
be allowed to build fortifications at both
ends of the canal and keep our warships
constantly patrolling that great avenue OF
commerce. In the first place. / doubt
very much If Nicaragua and Costa Rica
would be willing to permit US to erect
fortifications on their territory and main
tain an armed force on the banks of the
canal. It would be a constant menace to
these two governments and would incite
unending complications. All this specula-
ton in regard to the necessity Of fortify-
ing the canal Is 90 my mind but pretext
to delay or defeat the construction OF the
canal, inspired by those who are either
lukewarm I'm their advocacy of the canal