The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-21
TO WAIT FOR ENGLAND TO ACT
An Adverse Report on Senator Nor
gan's Canal Resolution.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Lodge re-
Foreign Relations the resolution intro
duced by Mt. Morgan, abrogating the Clay
ton-Bulwer Treaty. providing that thu
ratification Of the Hay Pauncefote Treaty
is not condition precedent to legisla-
ton on the proposed waterway, and en-
tering into a protocol with Costa Rica.
The resolution follows:
Whereas an agreement with Costa
Rica. and also with Nicaragua. has
been made with the United States in
the following terms, namely:
Protocol of an agreement between
the Governments of the United States
and OF Costa Rica in regard to future
negotiations for the construction of an
1nteroceanic canal by way of Lake
Nicaragua
1t is agreed between the two Gov
ernments that when the President of
the United States is authorized by
law to acquire control of such por-
ton of the territory now belonging to
Costa Riea as may be desirable and
necessary on which to construct and
protect canal of depth and capacity
sufficient for the passage of vessels of
IuI 81 lObhd6t anu AT hVN III
use from a point near San Juan del
Norte. on the Caribbean Sea, via Lake
Nicaragua. to Brito, on the Pacific
Ocean. they mutually engage to enter
into negotiations with each other to
settle the plan and the agreements,
in detail found necessary to accom-
plish the construction and TO provide
for the ownership and control of the
proposed canal.
Gag preliminary to such future
negotiaticns it is forthwith aged
that the course Of said canal and the
terminals thereof shall be the same
that were stated in a treaty signed by
the plenipotentiaries of the United
States and Great Britain on February
5, 1900. and now pending in the SEN
ate of the United States for confrma--
ton. and that the provisions of the
same shall be adhered to by the Uni
led States and Costa Rica.
In witness whereof the under
signed have signed this protocol and
have hereunto affixed their seals;
Resolved, That the Clayton Bull
wcr Treaty of July 4, 1850, gives no
right to Great Britain to demand that
the Congress of the United States
shall withhold its ratification of said
agreements or shall abstain from
legislation to provide fer their
prompt execution
Resolved. That the ratification by
Great Britain of the -Pauncefote
Treaty of February 5, 1900. as the
same has been amended in the Senate,
is not a condition precedent to legisla-
tion by Congress in providing for the
execution OF said agreements with
Costa RicG and Nicaragua; nor are the
PRINCIPLES or provisions OF the Clay
ton Buryer Treaty, which was ratified
July 1850, any just or admissible
grorHf = objection on the part of the
G1rerHu at of Her Britannia Majesty
to th7 -Itctment of law by Congress
pFuF3tIng for the execution of such
aeTvs .,,eats with Costa Rica and Mic
aragTa.''
Mr.. Lodge gave notice that a minorit,
report would be filed by Mr.. Morgan.
The adverse report is held by tbs
friends of the canal 20 mean that there
will be no waterway legislation at thi:
session of Congress. Mr.. Morgan had de-
pended upon a favorable report so thai
the Hepburn bill might be made law.
By the adverse action of the committee
it is given as the intention of Congress &c
await action on the Hay-Pauncefote
Treaty by Great Britain and that no for
ward step. such as summarily abrogating
the Clayton Bulwer Treaty, will be had.
1t is given as the opinion of majority
of the committee that the ratification OF
the HayPaUncefote Treaty by Great Bri-
tain is a condition precedent to the pas
sage of any canal legislation.
Those who voted to report the resOlu-
ton adversely were Messrs Lodge, Frye
CuIlom. Clark, Foraker, and Wolcott. al
Those voting to report the resolution IA
vorably were Messrs. Morgan, Daniel, Ba-
con. and Money. all Democrats.
Mr. Morgan intends, when he presents
the minority report, to call up the resolu-
ton. thus forcing the Senate on record
in the matter.