The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-22
Presented From the Foreign Rela-
tionS Committee to the Senate.
Rights of America Set Forth in Wig
orous LanEuage-The CIayton-RuI-
sver Treaty Declared to Be. No nar.
Opinion That There Is Danger of
Delaying Waterway Legislation.


entering into protocol with Costa Rica
The majority reported the resolution ad-
veTsely, thus preventing any waterway
legislation at this session of Congress
The minority report, which was signed
| by Messrs- Morgan, Bacon, Daniel. and
Money, sets forth the rights of the United
States in the premises. It is stated that
to delay legislation on the waterway be-
/ yond this session will be to assume risk
/ Of extreme danger. It is declared that
/ the CIayton-Bulwer Treaty is no bar to
! the right of the United States TO con-
| strUct the canal Congress, it is set forth,
has power to abrogate the old compact
| without the consent Of Great Britain.
After reporting the resolution favora0ly,
the report says:
THE questions presented by the reso-
buttons that have been adversely reported
by the majority of the Committee on Ter
eign Relations are very plain, and they
relate only to the right OF Great Britain
TO direct or control or obstruct or pre-
vent Congress, as Iawmaking body, from
legislating for the promotion of a snip
canal through Nicaragua and Costa Rica
with the consent of those States.
The House bill No. 1888, known as the
Hepburn bill is the only measure before
Congress relating TO such canal that has
received the sanction of either House. and
it has been on the Senate calendar, after
passing the House by a vote almost unEn-
imous since the 14th day of May 1900,
when 1t was reported 10 the Senate by the
Committee on Intcroceanic Canals with
out dissent.
Far h If
Representatives the Clayton Bulwer
Treaty had been brooding over our most
vital rights and threatening the sover-
eighty of the United States for a half
century. It's discussion as an impedi-
rlent to our right to construct and con
troll a ship canal through Nicaragua had
excited among the people of the United
States deep sense of humiliation. which
has grown into strong resentment tow
ard its authors and toward those Who,
being unwilling 10 fix a period for its
abrOgatiOn, are committed TO its in1ef-
mite continuance.
IN the meantime, during the sixteen
years that Congress has been engaged
in active investigation and legislation on
this subject at great expense. Great Brit
ain has maintained a studious siIence-as
10 any claim Of right or comfy to inter
fere with, protest against, or TO criti-
else the action Of Congress and OF the
President as to any OF these numerous
and varied proceedings
Great Britain, as the owner of nearly
half the stock in the Suez Canal, now
worth above 200 per cent premium and
yielding net dividends for twenty years
past OF more than Is per cent, and as the
military occupant Of Egypt and the ambi-
uous ccnqueror Of a domain that will
bring all OF eastern, southern, and the half
OF northern Africa under her imperial
sceptre, cannot be Indifferent TO such
riVa. as the Nicaragua Canal
The House OF Representatives, uncon-
sciOus Of such an objection as that the
President and the Senate had abdieated
the treaty-making power in favor OF Great
Britain, 50 that the United States could
never negotiate with Nicaragua or Costa
Rica for the right to own and control d
ship canaI within their boundaries with
out British consent, and spurninz; such
thought. II it ever intruded into the mind
Of amy American, proceeded to enact the
Hepburn bill
The President prepared the way for
this action Of Congress by instituting ne
gotiations with Costa Rica and Nicaragua,
the States that have the first and only
sovereign right to dispose Of their terri
tories so as TO subject them TO such ease
ments, rights, and privileges.
These negotiations resulted in proto-
4
Costa Rica and with Nicaragua which
we're signed by and sealed ana delivered
TO the respective plenipOtentiaries of the
United States and of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, which are still in full force and eff
feet
1t is clear that the President, in max
ing these agreements in the name OF the
United States, dehantIy disregarded any
claim Of right that Great Britain could
assert to the effect that her consent was
necessary TO such action on his part as
President And, equally, he asserted the
right Of Congress to disregard any claims
Of Great Britain 10 prevent the acguisi
ton Of such rights from Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, and 10 appropriate money Tor
that distinct purpose
The President did not hesitate or halt
between tEo opinions where the honor and
rights Of his country were 50 deeply in
voIved and were so keenly felt by the peo-
pie. He went boldly to Nicaragua and
Costa Rica and claimed those rights and
privileges from the sovereign States that
could alone grant them, with full kncwl-
edge that they we're forbidden 10 the
Unitea States in the Clayton Buyer
Treaty
II Great Britain chooses to regard the
Presidents agreements as acts of hostiIi-
y. The United States cannot avoid the
consequences except by regulating or an
Luliiug those agreements with Costa Rica
and Nicaragua. TINS action OF the Presi-
dent. so honorable to his wisdom and
patriotism, goes still further. It binds
the Government OF the United States 10
treat with Nicaragua and Costa Rica for
the settlement of the plans and the agree
meuts found necessary 10 accomplish the
construction and 10 provide for the owner
ship and control OF the proposed canal
To delay beyond this session 10 pass
the House bill viii be TO assume risk
of extreme danger.
THE Ciayton-Bulwer Treaty, which
the President has deied without apology
is no bar TO the rights We have acquired
by these agreements with Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua, and so the first OF these reso-
lutiOns declares.
Has the Senate the right. or is il
proper or decOrOus, to insist that an
agreement made by the President, that
requires the legislation Of Congress. shall
not be so provided. but shall await the
consent Of Great Britain to amendments
TO treaty put on it by the action of the
Senate?
''fne Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, In its
original form and as il was amended by
the Senate, was never necessary 10 the
prese walton of any right or the promo
tiOn Of any policy OF the United States"
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