The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-11-20
nAY.pAuNCEFOTE TREATY SIGNED.
Two Principal Points Of Differ
ence From Rejected Treaty.

Washington, Nov. ls.-The new
Hav-Pauncefote treaty was signed to
day at 12 05 by Secretary Hay, for the
United States, and Lord Pauncefote,
the British ambassador, for Great
Britain.
This treaty is intended to replace
the first Gay-Pauncefote treaty. That
convention was amended so extensively
bv the United States senate at its last
session that the British government
declined to ratify it. Within few
weeks negotiations began afresh be-
tween Secretary Hay and Lord
Pauncefote, which have just resulted
in the signature of the new treaty,
drawn with special reference to the
objections found by the senate with
the first treaty. From a due sense OF
the courtesy which must be observed
towards the United States senate
wherever treaty is concerned, the
State department is stopped from
making public the text of the new
convention, and that will remain
secret until the senate itself shall break
the seal of confidence.
It is said at the State department
that the various publications which
have been made of the alleged text of
the treaty are all erroneous and con-
iectural, though, in view of the rather
free admissions that have been made
of the purposes of the negotiators, it
has been possible by the use of the
text of the first treaty, to construct
one similar in general terms to the
new convention.
The principal point of difference be-
tween The new and the failed treaty
is the withdrawal of Great Britain from
the joint guarantee of the neutrality
of the canal, thus leaving the United
States the sole guarantor. The .excls-
ion of the old provision respecting the
right to fortify the canal leaves that
rgiht by inference optional with the
United States. All commerce of
whatever nationality passing through
the canal will fare alike; there will
be no discrimination in rates in favor
of United States shipping.
Otherwise the new treaty is In scope
similar to last years treaty. 1t re-
places technically the Clayton Bulwer
treaty, concluded on April 19, 1850.
By the terms of that old convention
the United States and Great Britain
agreed that neither should seek any
advantage. in rights OF transit across
the isthmus. By the new convention
Great Britain yields her right in favor
of the United States, which is thus
at liberty to construct canal.
Nothing more remains to be done as
far as this treaty is concerned before
the senate meets, or, indeed, until the
treaty shall have been ratified. reject
ed, or amended. If it should lbe rati-
fed. the State department will pro-
ceed Immediately to negotiate the
treaties with Costa Rica and Nicaragua
for which it already has arranged IN
protocols pending before the senate,
which will permit the canal to be
constructed and prescribe the terms
upon which the consent of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica is given. 1t was in
antici patton of this action, it is pre-
sumed, that the Nicaraguan govern
ment, only recently denounced the
treaty of trade and commerce with the
United States. This treaty contained
sections conveying rights as to canal
constructions which are to be replaced
by more modern provisions.