The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-11
LODGE SPEAKS
FOR THE TREATY.
Massachusetts Senator
Tells of Britain's Con-
cessions.
New Plan, He Declares.
Should Be Acceptable to
Americans.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1O.-The open ses-
sion Of the Senate to-day was devoted to
routine business, such as the presentation
Of petitions, memorials and bills. The
Senate then went into executive session
on motion OF Senator Lodge, who has
charge Of the Hay -Pauncefote treaty.
After number OF. nominations had
been confirmed Senator Ledge called up
the -Pauncefote treaty and made a
brief statement regarding that conven-
ton. The Senate then adjourned in order
to give the Democratic caucus committee
an opportunity to hold a meeting.
Lodge contended that the new treaty
does away with all the Objectionable fea-
lures Of the treaty of the last Congress,
and enumerated the particulars in which
the revised agreement conforms to the
action Of the Senate in the last Con-
gress, when the old treaty was before il.
He analyzed the new treaty from begin
ming to end, showing that in SPECIFIC
terms it abrogates the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty of 1850, which he said had stood
constantly ia the way of the construction
of an isthmian canal. The abrogation of
this treaty, he contended, was a most i'm
pOrtant achievement. and he did not be-
lieve that the United States should or
would lose al opportunity TO make secure
that concession.
Senator Lodge also called attention to
the omission in paragraph one of article
three of the words ''in time of war as in
treaty the paragraph read that the
canal shall be free and open in time of
war as in time of peace TO the vessels Of
commerce and Of war of all nations on
terms Of entire equality" etc. He urged
that the omission of this phrase had the
effect practically of leaving the United
States TO do with the canal in time of war
according TO its own pleasure. He also
referred TO the fact that rule seven in the
treaty OF the powers regulating the con-
troll Of the Suez canal, which had been
embodied in the original Hay-Pauncefote
draft. He quoted this rule, which pro-
vided that no fortifcations shall be
erected comm anding the canal or the
waters adjacent" etc.
This he said, was a material concession
to the United States and was quite suf-
hcient TO meet the objections made
against the agreement that the United
States would have no power to protect its
property. It practically left the United
states free to fOrtify the canal in case
II should be considered desirable to do
so, and was in line with the omission of
the restriction keeping the canal open in
time OF war. The fact that the invitation
contained in the old treaty to the various
powers to give their adherence to the
agreement had been eliminated from the
new convention, he said, was another
compliance with the action of the Senate
on the original treaty.
These concessions, Lodge urged, were
ample, and he contended thar they were
OF such a nature as to render the new
treaty acceptable TO all American citizens
VINO wanted TO see a canal constructed
Practically, he said, Great Britain had
agreed TO turn the entire management of
the canal over to the United States NOT
only in time of peace, but in time of war.
II IS understood that the treaty will be
called up tomorrow.