The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-19
Known that Great Britain Leaves
Guarantee of Neutrality
to Us.
The RIGHT TO FoRTIfY THE CANAL OURS.
These Are The Principal Points Of Difference
Between the New Treaty and the One
the Senate Refused to
Ratify.
(By the Associated Press.)

'Dy lile ASsOtldlcu fEtSS.J
Washington, D. c., Nov. 1S.-The new
Hay Pauneefote Treaty was signed to-
day at 1905 by Secretary Hay, for the
United States. and Lord Pauncefote,
the British Ambassador for Great Brit
ain.
This treaty is intended to replace the
first Hay Pauncefote Treaty. That con-
vention was amended so extensively by
the United States Senate at its last ses-
sicn that the British Government de-
clined to ratify it. Within a few weeks
negotiations began afresh between Sec
retary Hay and Lord Pauncefote which
have Just resulted in the signature of
the new treaty, drawn with special ref
erence TO the objections found by the
Senate with the first treaty.
From a due sense of the courtesy
which must be observed towards the
United States Senate wherever treaty
is concerned, tn Stat Dpartmnt is stopp-
ed from making public the text of the
new convention. and that will remain
secret until the Senate itself shall break
the seal of confidence.
1t is said at the State Department
that various publications which have
been made of the alleged text Of the
treaty are all erroneous and conjectural
though, in view of the rather free adj
mission that have been made of the pur-
poses of the negotiations, it has been
possible by the use of the text Of the
first treaty to construct one similar In
general terms to the new convention
The principal point of difference be-
tween the new and the failed treaty Is
the withdrawal of Great Britain from
the joint guarantee of the neutrality Of
the canal, thus leaving the United States
the sole guaranteer. The excision Of the
old provision respecting the right to for
tify the canal leaves that right by in
ference optional with the United States
All commerce of whatever nationality
passing through the canal will fare
alike; there will be no discrimination in
rates in favor of the United States ship
ping.
Otherwise the new treaty Is in scope
similar to last years treaty. IL re-
places technically the Clayton -Bulwer
Treaty, concluding on April 49, 1850. BY
the terms of that old convention the
United States and Great Britain agreed
that neither should seek any advantage
in rights of transit across the isthn1us.
By the new convention Great Britain
yields her right in favor of the United
States, which is thus at liberty TO con-
struct a canal.
Nothing more remains 10 be done as
far as this treaty Is concerned before the
Senate meets, or, indeed. until the
treaty shall have been ratified, rejected,
or amended. IF it should be ratified the
State Department will proceed to nego-
| tiate the treaties with Costa Rica and
Nicaragua for which it already has ar
ranged in protocols pending before the
| Senate, which will permit the. canal te-
be constructed and prescribe the tefTns
upon which the consent of Nicaragua
| and Costa Rica is given.
| It was in anticipation, 1t is presumed,
| that the Nicaraguan Government only
recently denounced the treaty Of trade
| and commerce with the United States.
! This treaty contained sections conveying
rights as to canal constructions which
| are to be repalced by modern provis-
| ions.
There was no particular ceremony
connected with the signature today Of
the important convention. Lord Paunce-
fote had been indisposed for several
days past and 1t was not expected that
the treaty could be signed before the
end of the current week. However, to
the surprise of the State Department
officials, the Ambassador appeared at
the Department about noon and the
work Of signing TIE treaty was soon dis
| patched.
The scene was the historic diplomatic
chamber of the State Department, aud
beside the principals, Secretary Hay and
Lord Pauncefote, there were present
| Mr.. Sidney Smith, Chief of the Diplo-
matte Bureau Of the State Department.
Mr.. Percy Wydnham, the Second Sec
retary of the British Embassy, and Will
liam Gwin and Edward Savoy, the Sec
retary of States private messengers,
whose duty it was TO attend to the af-
fixing of the seals.
The Lord hasn't much use for mar
"a