The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-12
TREATY DISCUSSED.
Senate In Executive Session
on Canal Convention.
BACON OF GEORGIA OPPOSES MEASURE
VIII Not Vote For. Yet VIII Not Ob-
struct RatihcatiOn-senatO Gull
lom Points Out Good Points
of New Agreement.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 12.--When the
senate met yesterday, prayer was Of
fered by Rev. Herrick Johnston OF
Chicago, Chaplain Milburn being alb
sent. The house concurrent resolution
providing for a holiday adjournment
from Dee. 10 until Jan. G. 1902, was re-
ferred to the committee on appropria
tions. The senate them at 1922 p. m.
on motion of Mr.. Lodge went into ex'
ecutive session to further consider the
-Pauncefote treaty and at 2:50 p
m. adjourned.
Two speeches on the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty were made in the executive ses.
sion of the senate, one by Senator Ba.
con in opposition to the treaty and the
other by Senator Cullom, the prospec,
tive chairman Of the committee on for.
eign relations, in support of it.
Mr.. Bacon replied to the speech made
Tuesday by Senator Lodge. He sum.
med up his objections in the statement
that he could not freely accept any
treaty which does not place the 18TH
mian canal entirely under American
auspices and American control. This
he said, the pending treaty does not
do. nor does it do anything like it. 1t
did not by long odds accomplish what
had been accomplished by the senate
amendments made to the Hay-p -paunce-
fote treaty at the last session of con-
gress.
The Davis amendment, he said. had
Abrogated all the Objectionable provi-
sions of that treaty as negotiated. and
it NAnot matter what provisions there
were In the agreement 50 long as the
United States was authorized, as it
was by the principal Davis amend
nent, to secure The safety and mainte-
nance Of the canal by its own force.
That amendment had given this conn
try Il free hand to do what was neccS-
sary for the protection and defense of
the canal whereas the present treaty
carries all the restrictions which were
originally contained in the old treaty,
leaving ont the notifications Of the
Davis amendment
In conclusion Mr.. Bacon announced
that while he had no intention of vot-
ing for the treaty he would do noth-
ing to obs,ruct its ratification.
Senator Cullom congratulated the
SENATE and the country upon the fact
that there are two things in conucc-
ton with the new treaty upon which,
he said practically all are agreed.
One of these WAS the d"sirahiity Of
the superscssion Of the Clayton Bul-
wer treaty aud the other that Of the
Necessity for the construction Of an
isthlnan canal.
He contended that the new treaty
radically changes the conditions pre-
scnted by the first Hay Pauncefote
treaty. clearly relieving it Of the ne
cessity Of such an amendment us that
made to the old treaty upon the sug-
gcstiOn of Senator Davis because the
treaty itself world permit the United
States under international law to own,
manage and defend the canal in any
way lnat II may choose. IN other
words, he added. in a war with Great
Britain or with any other power the
treaty would he suspended under the
law which governs nations until the
war should be concluded. when it
would be revived and again enforced.
He dwclt upon the fact, which he
said was the most important circum-
stance to be considered, that the new
treaty supcrSedes and abrogates the
ayton-Hulwer convention of 1850
and for this reason would be of untold
value to The country.
He contondcd that the provision in
regard TO the policing of the canal ap-
plies only to its control in times Of
peace and not in time Of war.