The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-05

Monroe Doctrine %ot tEnlarged-Posf-
ton of Britfshers on Rejection. of
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty-Advantages
to England of Nicaraguan Canal-Not
Opposed to Its Construction by
Our Goyernment-Rumor OPPOSE
tion by Suez Canal Company
London, November 2.-The first Off
cial statement of any kind made for a
month in relation to the Nicaragua Ca
nal has been obtained by the Associat-
ed Press. 1t confirms the fact that
Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassa-
dor to the United States. when he lands
in New York today, will have with him
the draft of a new treaty, abrogating
the Clayton-BulWer treaty, which is in
every particular satisfactory to Lord
Salisburys cabinet.
Since a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press interviewed Lord Paunce-
fote in London not one word officially
authorized has been given out here
with reference to the canal The edit
rial comments which have appeared in
England have been based entirely upon
dispatches from the United States. This
is explained by the rather astonishing
announcement that all negotiations up
to the present day have been entirely
unofficial, from a strictly diplomatic
point of view, and that on pourparlers
only depend the hopes generally shared
for d successful bridging over of the
diplomatic difficulty. These pOurpar-
lers, however, have been particularly
searching. The state department does
not require to see a copy of the impor-
tant document Lord Pauncefote carries
in order to learn it's terms, though, Off
cially, negotiations will only commence
when the ambassador reaches Wash
ington. Until that time the exact con-
ditions of the new convention are with
held.
ENGLAND'S QUID PRO QUO.
Though it is admitted that Great
Britain has agreed to put the Clayton
Bulwer treaty to one side and to acqui-
esce in the construction of the canal by
and under the control of the United
States. this concession from Lord Lans-
downe's original contention has not
been granted without some real or fam
cied advantage to Great Britain. 4
would not be fair to say that a quid
pro quo constituted the main feature
of the protracted pourparlers, but thar
it will directly or indirectly result is
firmly established in the minds CT the
members of the cabinet. One of the
most responsible officials connected
with these and the earlier negotiations.
said:
I'VE never really objected to the con-
struction of the canal, but we did and
do object to a cavalier abrogation Of
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. 1t was in
that spirit that Lord Lansdowne couch
ed his reply to the United States SEN
ate's rejection of the last Hay-Paunce-
= fote treaty. 1t was not what you want
ed to do, but the nasty way you said
it, that was the chief reason for our op-
position. Since then we have been ap-
preached in a rational. polite manner,
and we have again endeavored to sub
stitute for the Clayton-Bulwer treaty
treaty that will enable America to car
ry out design which. in a broad
sense, will doubtless benefit the whole
world
The modification of the foreign office
has doubtless done more than anything
else to secure the assent of the British
government to a new treaty, but almost
in the same breath must be mentioned
the state departments willingness to
agree to a reciprocal arrangement re-
garding the British West Indies and
other British possessions. This, while
in line with the views latterly attrib-
uted by special cable dispatches to
President Mckinley and President Roo
sevelt, was so at variance with the
British governments experience of the
American attitude that they now regard
it in the light of a quid pro quo for
what they believe to be concession
over the Nicaraguan proposal.
The allegation contained in some Of
the British papers that Lord Lans-
downe has tamely given up inherent
rights without any return is strenuous
ly denied on the foregoing grounds.
NOT SURE OF IT'S ACCEPTANCE.
What is perhaps more interesting
even than the reasons prompting Great
Britain to send over Lord Pauncefote
with his draft of a treaty is the fact
that the inner circles of the cabinet are
not nearly so sure of the acceptance Of
the convention as are some of the lead
ing papers on both sides of the water.
When the full terms are announced, it
is feared that some members of the SEN