Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-16
ENGLAND'S POSITION
Renewed Speculation Over Her Atti-
tude on Nicaragua Canal Question.
THE AMENDMENT TO THE TREATY
Little Likelihood That British Gov
eminent VIII Accept It.
lay IA KE NO ACTION

LONDON, January 16.-Nicaragua canal
matters brought forcibly before the
public today by means of an editorial in
the Daily Telegraph and lengthy dispatch
from the American correspondent of the
London Times. Each takes exactly oppo
site views. The Associated Press IS Off
Cially informed that neither can be taken
TO represent the governments views, for
the excellent reason that these views are
not yet concentrated into decision. The
conferences so far held between United
States Ambassador Choate and the secre-
tary of state for foreign affairs, Lord Lans-
downe, have occurred at the instigation of
the latter and We're for the purpose of en-
tightening Lord Lansdowne on various
teChnicalities as to enable him to eX-
plain them to the cabinet meeting of Fri
day. Until that is held Great Britain's at
titude will not be known. Forecast thus
develops into speculation. The United
States embassy officials appear to he hope
ful of the acceptance of the amendments TO
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty.
Not Likely to Accept.
In spite of mis- impression and taking full
consideration of the opportunities of the
embassy officials in determining which way
the cat Is likely to jump, the Associated
Press has excellent reason to believe that
if Lord Lansdowne's voice predoninates in
the cabinet Great Britain will not accept
the amendment. There is no shadow of
doubt that if the opinion of the foreign Of
flee Is followed, Great Britain will either
regretfully express her inability to comply
with the amendments or fail to take any
action whatever. in which case the treaty
Will lapse of itself. Several of Lord Lans-
dOwnes advisers favor the latter course.
Their feelings can well be judged from q
statement Of one of the foremost of his ad-
visers who, replying to q remark that the
canal was not worth row, said:
Perhaps not. But il does not do 10 ap-
ply that principle IN every case -
The dispatch of the American correspond
ent of the London Times is a bitter invoca-
ton OF Great Britain not to give and-En-
glish Americans an opportunity for exulta-
tion over her surrender and finds hearty
editorial echo in the Globe, which declares
that though Americans as a whole are
learning 10 take a more sober view of the
re ,ations with Great Britain, there is still
a group Of politicians whose main object is
10 annoy, to humiliate Great Britain
Assumption Not Well Founded.
Various American dispatches refer point
edly to Washingtons growing assumption
that Great Britain will accept the amend
ments According To rumor here this is
greatly due to private conversations with
Lord Pauncefote some time ago.
Whatever truth there is in the reported
conversations with Lord Pauncefote and
they are not credited at the foreign office.
il can be said that the matter has now gone
beyond the phase where Lord Pauncefotes
views are likely TO turn the scale one way
or the other. Were not the question regard
ed from the broad standpoint of Great Brit
aims general policy toward the United
States it would be safe TO say the Senate's
amendments would meet with a prompt re-
fCsal, and If that does not occur It Will be
done with full appreciation the part
Of Great Britain of any and all conse-
quenceS.