The age-herald., 1901-03-12
CANAL TREATY
 IS REJECTED BY
 GREAT BRITAIN Long Expected Answer Received
 at State Department T WAS FRIENDLY IN TONE But Senate Amendments Could
 Not be Agreed to ENGLAND MAKES NO PROPOSALS Way Is Left Open for Further Nego- tiations and an Agreement May Yet Be Resched-Great Brit
 aims Attitude Clear.
But Senate Amendments Could
 Not be Agreed to
ENGLAND MAKES NO PROPOSALS

Washington, March 1.-The long ex- pected answer from the British govern ment to the State Departments commun- ication reciting the action of the Senate turned at noon today. Lord Pauncefote. the British ambassador had already ac- quainted Secretary Hay with the fact that he had received a communication from his government on the subject, and it is believed that it has been in his possession for several days. Secretary Hay had &C., quired general knowledge of the charac- ter of the British response.
 Lord Pauncefote came to the State De- partment at noon by appointment. He brought the answer with him and read 1t to Secretary Hay. It was. in form. an in- struction from Lord Lansdowne, the Brit sh minister of foreign affairs, to Lord Pauncefote and of this instruction he left copy with Secretary Hay. The sec- retary and the ambassador were closeted | for half an hour. At the conclusion of | the conference 1t was stated that the in- structions to Lord Rauncefote was to l notify the government of the United States that the British government did not see It's way clear to the acceptance of the Senate amendments
 Amendments Treated In Detail.
 The amendments were treated in detail at some length. in argumentative fashion. the purpose of the British government be- ing to show that 1t had sound reason for declining to accept them. After dfspos- ing of the details the note concluded with expression that such a course was forced upon the British government. There was nothing In the nature of q counter proposition, nor was any opening government It was stated that if there was to be further attempt to amend the Clayton-Bulwer treaty so as to authorize the United States to construct a water way across the isthmus, then 1t Is for the United States to make the overture: the British government simply drops the mat ter at this point.
 Secretary Hay took the communication to the White House to talk with the Pres ident as to the future action of the de- partment.
 The impression prevails that there will be no immediate action looking toward the negotiation of treaty.
 No opportunity offered this afternoon for the conference between the President and Secretary Hay respecting the British answer, therefore 1t cannot be stated what action will be taken by our gov ernment. It Is likely there will be no further negotiations on the subject soon.
 The British answer is quite long, as such documents go, and would make about two newspaper columns.
 Tone Is Distinctly Friendly
 The tone of the document is distinctly friendly, particularly so In the assur- ances of good will and a desire to co-op. crate in the realization of this undertak ing. Although the text Is withheld i- Is understood the answer takes up tho three amendments made by the Senate and presents the difficulties in the way of assentng to them. As to the amend ment which struck out all that clause of the treaty inviting other maritime na- tions to concur in the neutralizing of the canal. the British view Is that while the United States and Great Britain can bind themselves by treaty to neutra1ize the canal. they cannot make this action bind ing on all other governments unless these governments concur
 As to the entire abrogation of the C1av- on-Bulwer treaty provided by one of the Senate amendments it appears to be the British view that such step is too far-reaching to be taken without some negotiations in which the British side of the case is presented
 Davis Amendment.
 The so-called Davis amendments ap- pears to be the chief obstacle in the way of an agreement. and while the British answer makes no suggestion of any fur ther negotiation. it seems to be a fair inference from it's general tenor that if a modification of the amendment could be secured there probably could be an ad- justment of the other points of differ ence.
 A reading of the answer also malcz plain that while it does not make counter preparations or propose further action. yet it does not preclude such action by laying down course which will be ad-