The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-10-23
he I anal Treaty.

Recent reports tlom Washington
give, as by authority, the main provi-
sions of the new II ,y-Paunce ote trea-
ty According to these reports its
"salient features" are these:
Fnst-1he new convention super
sedes the Clayton Bulwer Treaty.
Second-The principle of neutrality
is guaranteed, tn United States be-
ing the sole guarantOr.
Third--The right to fortify the canal
is secured TO the United States alone.
1t is alleged that these provisions
meet all the objections which arose in
the Senate when the original Hay
Pauncefote treaty was submitted and
are in harmony with the dominant
note of the Senate's revision of that
instrument; that in spirit of liberality
and earnest neighboriness the Sails
bury government has agreed unreserv-
eddy to these points without even man
ifesting feeling of ungracious yield
ing of any CONVENTIONS; that there has
been "not the least display of chauvin-
ism or ingois m on either side in the
progress OF the patient and careful ne
gotations which have resulted in a
promise of such great good to both ma
tons"
Now that the chief obstacle has been
removed from the path of the Nicara-
qua canal, it is confidently believed that
there will be some positive and definite
legis alton on that subject at the COM
ing session of Congress. No consider
able opposition to the enterprise has
been urged by any Influential element
Of lawmakers on any other ground than
that which has been 30 completely COW
cred by the three points made. For
example, the new convention even pro-
vides for the forti6cation of the canal
by the United States if, and whenever,
this nation cares to fortify. Much has
been said in the House in the matter of
the United States fortifying the propos-
ed waterway. In the Senate there has
been less support for this proposition,
mainly because that body believes it is
not necessary to expend millions Of
dollars in constructing Notifications.
In order not to give the House another
opportunity to delay canal legislation
by debate on the subject of fortitica-
tiops, the new convention reserves to
the United States the right to fortify.
1t is said that there is little doubt
that the Senate will ratify the treaty at
the earliest practical date. Senator
Morgan Of Alabama, who has opposed
all agreements with Great Britain on
the canal question which did not in
clude provision for setting aside the
ClayCon-Bulwer treaty, favors the con-
vention recently negotiated. Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, is known to
favor the new treaty. In brief, it is
not expected that this convention will
meet dangerous opposition from any
quarter in the Senate. So say the men
in contact q the sources Of informa-
ton at Washington.
Assuming that these reports of what
the new convention will contain, and
that the concessions made by England
will disarm opposition on old scores,
the physical obstacles in the way of
construction and maintenance, ques-
tions of expediency on commercial and
financial grounds, and those affecting
the national safety or defense, are
likely to come more prominently to the
front when the building of the canal
again becomes the subject of legisla-
ton. Political difficulties having been
satisfactorily eliminated from the ques-
ton, the building of the canal will be-
come a matter of domestic concern,
and in its determination the business
and financial phases OF the enterprise,
the opposition of the land routes to the
Pacific coast, besides considerations re-
lating to national military security and
defense, will become the Leading SUBJ
jects Of debate and grounds of voting.