New-York tribune., 1901-11-19
THE CANAL TREATY SIGNED.

Lord pauncefote's return to Washington has
been promptly followed as The Tribune some
time ago confidently predicted, by the signing
of the new Hay-Pauncefote Treaty concerning
the projected isthmian canal That interesting
and important work performed YESTERDAY
making the date memorable one, we may wen
believe, in the history of the canal enterprise
and also in that Of Anglo-American reiauohS'
The treaty must. of course. be ratined D! 'he
Senate before the instrument becomes opera
tive. But if the undisputed forecasts be accu-
rate ratification will be accomplished speedh!
and with little If any opposition. Indeed, il 'le
treaty be as represented. there Would reah!
appear to be no room for other than purei!
factious opposition. The British Government
appears to have conceded in the most friendly
manner all that the United States has ASKED
without the nomination of any quid pro quo'
looking for its reward in the great dement's
the canal will undoubtedly bestow upon British
commerce and in the general strengthening or
amicable relations between the two countries
Various reports concerning the terms or the
treaty were current yesterday. one OF them. IN
The New-York Journal" purporting to give
from London almost the exact text OF tne "hoie
instrument. It will be observed that the latter
and all other reports are in effect nothing but
combinations of or enargements upon the
authoritative forecast Of the treaty printed IN
The Tribunes special Washington dispatches
exactly a month ago yesterday We may De
permitted TO recall from our own columns OIL
October IS our Washington correspondents ex-
plicit declaration concerning the treaty. lis
salient features he said. ARE these:
..Ffrst-The convention supersedes the
..CIayton-BuIwer Treaty.
..second-The principle of neutrality Is
guaranteed, the United states heine 'he
...oIe Euarantor.
.Third-The right TO fortify the canal is
"sccured 10 the United States alone"
All later hints. predictions and declarations
have merely corroborated that statement and
prepared the public for finding final confirma-
ton of our correspondents report IN the onnclai
revelation of the text of the treaty
There needs TO be said at this time nothing
further concerning the terms of the treaty thah
to point out anew that the vast powers con-
ferred upon the United States are freed as far
as possible from obligations which might prove
embarrassing Thus while the right to fortlfy
the canal is secured to the United states alone
it is a natural and inevitable sequence OF the
nrovision that this country is TO be the sole
guarantor of the canals neutrality-there Is no
compulsion to fortify it. and the United States
is left free TO do so or not, circumstances ma!
seem to require. In fine, the new treaty appears
10 give the United States all it wants and TO
imDose l1non it nothing it does not want. II is
high tribute to the two distinguished dlplo-
mats whose names are identified with the treaty
that they have been able TO negotiate sucn a
convention TO the mutual satisfaction and poten-
tial profit Of both countries concerned. IheE
are TO be heartily congratulated upon the
achievement as are also the two great nations
between which this treaty should be another
link of peace and friendship.