The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-26

like action in or around the canal, while
the United States would be able TO resort
to such action to whatever extent they
might deem necessary to secure their
own safety"
Respecting the contention that there is
a specific prohibition in the Hay-Paunce-
fote tree ty against the erection of forti-
fications and that this would sufficient
ly inure the free use of the canal, LHrl
Lansdowne says this contention is one
which Ills Majerty's government are
quite unable to admit. After calling at
tention 10 the dangerous vagueness OF the
language employed in the amendment, lie
says:
Even If 1t were more precisely worded,
it would be impossible to determine wha.
might be the effect IL one clause per-
mitting defensive measures, and another
forbidding Notifications, were allowed to
stand side by side in the
convention. To His Majesty's govern
ment 1t seems, as l have already said,
that the amendment might be construed
as leaving it open TO the United States
at any moment, not only If war existed,
but even if 1t were anticipated, to take
any measures, however stringent or far
reaching, which, in their own judgment,
might be represented as suitable for the
purpose of protecting their national in
terests. Such an enactment would strike
at the very root of that general princi-
Pile OF naturalization upon which the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty was based, and which
was reaffirmed in the convention as
drafted"
The third Senate amendment struck out
the provision inviting the adherence of
other Powers. AS to this Lord Lansdowne
says:
Would Bind Britain Only.
strr-t. 4
prospect of the wider guarantee of the
neutrality of the canal, but places this
country in a position OF marked disad-
vantage compared with other Powers
which would NOT be subject to the self
denying ordinance which Great Britain
is desired to accept. 1t would follow,
were His Majestys government to agree
TO such an arrangement, that while the
United States would have a treaty right
to interfere with the canal in time of war,
or apprehended war, and while other
Powers could with a clear conscience dis
regard any of the restrictions imposed
by the convention, Great Britain alone, in
spite of her enormous possessions
on the American continent, in spite of
the extent of her Australasian colonies
and her interests in the East, would be
absolutely precluded from resorting to
any such action, or from taking measures
10 secure her interests IN and near the
canal"
Having thus expressed his objections to
each of the three Senate amendments,
Lord Landowne concludes as follows:
Closes with Sincere Regret.
'I request that your excellency will ex-
plain to the Secretary of State the rea-
sons, as set forth in this dispatch, why
His Majesty's government feels unable to
accept the convention in the shape pre-
sented to them by the American ambassa-
dor. and why they prefer. as matters
| stand at present, to retain uumodified the
| provisions of the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
| His Majesty's government have, through
| out these negotiations, given evidence of
| their earnest desire to meet the views OF
| the United States. They would on this oc-
| casion have been ready to consider in q
friendly spirit any amendments of the con-
vention, not Inconsistent with the prnci-
| pies accepted by both governments, which
the government of the United States
might have desired to propose and they
would sincerely regret failure to come
to an amicable understanding in regard to
| this important subject"