The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-03-14
a common ground of action.
TIE NEGOTIATIONS.
Chief International Question Before
STATE DEPARTMENT

State Department.
The H~ay-Pauncefote negotiations have
been In progress for something over two
years, and owing to the great interests
involved they nave constituted the chief
international question at issue before the
state department. The treaty was signed
prior to the opening Of the Fifty-siXth con-
gress, and was submitted to tue senate
in December, 1899. 1t at once encountered
opposition in that body, but after consid-
cradle delay was ratified, after several
amendments had been adopted. The chief
issue was made on what is known as the
Davis amendment. While in terms this
did not give the United States a right to
fortify the canal, yet in general language
1t expressed the right of this country to
adopt such measures In regard to the
canal as were deemed necessary for the
proper maintenance of American author
ity. After extended debate in executive
session, this and two other amendments
to the treaty were adopted, and the treaty
was ratified as amended. The two other
amendments ~abrogated the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty and struck out the provision
Of the treaty which invited other foreign
governments to express their approval Of
It. AS the amendments created conditions
which the British government had not
concurred in when the original treaty was
made, IL was necessary to present the in
strument, in its amended form, to that
government Tor It's approval
Affected All Nations.
It is understood that one moving con-
sideration in the minds of the British
statesmen who considered the answer to
be made was that their determination af-
fected not only Great Britain and her in
terests in the canal. but all the maritime
| nations of Europe and of the world at
large as the complete neutraliZing Of the
canal under the terms Of the treaty would
have the effect Of comforting the same
rights and usage to Germany, France and
other nations that were enjoyed by Great
Britain. 1t was rather In the character of
trustee for the maritime nations that the
amended treaty was considered. Further
more, an important consideration was as
to the effect of the new instrument in
completely wiping out the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, and the rights which Great Britain
claimed under that document. Some of
the British statesmen held that there
should be a quid pro QUO, if British claims
under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty were
surrendered. 1t was also held hat Great
Britain had certain vested rights in Cen
trail America, so that If the treaty was to
be succeeded by something less substantial.
than the old vested rights of Great Brit
ain were obliterated without any adequate
return. AT the same time, the understand
ing here IS that the sentiment of British Of
ficials was to avoid a breach or issue with
the United States, and if possible to ar
range a common basis of agreement. In
some British quarters 1t was held that too
much friction already had been caused
! by the canal issue, and that since the
United States was willing to invest the
hundreds Of millions of dollars required
for the canals construction, and then adj
nit to 1t the of Great Britain
and the world at large, 1t was but just to
give the American government a certain
degree of authority over the canal, par
ticularly when its military necessities re-
quired such authority. In this spirit, and
with these conflicting considerations the
matter has been pending before the Brit
ish cabinet, with the result of the formal
answer just communicated by LocQ
PaHncefOte.