Evening star., 1901-05-18
Proposals Regarding NicaraguanCanal
Received by Great Britain.
REDRAFT OF THE REJECTED TREATY
Foreign Office Favorable to Com
pIetion of Panama Canal.
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA

by the last mail. 1t is a voluminous docu-
ment and is being printed previous-to ex-
animation and discussion. 1t is described
a redraft of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty,
with what appear, from a casual perusal,
to be extensive annotations Several weeks
are likely to elapse before the cabinet can
commence it's preliminary discussions.
The dispatches relative to the possibility
of the substitution of the Panama isthmian
route are read with interest in Downing
street.
The Associated Press learns that agents
of the Panama company have not ap-
preached the British government, but that
if the United States should think it ad-
VlSable to complete the Panama canal the
decision would be hailed with no little sat
isfaction at the foreign office being an
easy way out of the present controversy
However, the British officials without
any accurate knowledge of the terms Of
fered by the Panama people and they in
cline to the belief that financial and other
difficulties will probably prevent the United
states from adopting this solution of the
affairs.
"If it is advisable to abrogate the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty on account of it's being
out OF date, said a high official, 'how
much more so is it necessary to annul the
French shore agreement. which was made
long before the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and
neck of New Foundland."
France Anxious for a Settlement
Inquiries reveal the fact that negotia-
tions to this latter end are progressing
though slowly. For the first time In re-
cent negotiations France is said to be ex-
hibiting genuine desire to have the mat
ter settled; and, though perhaps at the ex-
pense of concessions in other parts of the
globe Great Britain will endeavor to meet
her wishes.
The result of the conferences between
Mr.. Bond, premier of Newfoundland and
SIr Wilfrid Laurier, premier ofNCanada re-
garding reciprocity with the United States
has not yet been communicated to the CO.
lcnial office, though Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain sincerely hopes that the re-
ports OF Canadas assent to Mr.. Bond 5
proposition are correct.
The Situation I'm China.
With regard to China, which, with the
exception OF the foregoing, is the only for
eisn matter engaging the governments at
tention, 1t is still hoped in Downing street
that Great Britain and America will be
able to effect a reduction of the inden,
nifty. The Associated Press is informed
that the German objections continue to
form the chief obstacle to this end
The affair Of the tug Ewo which was
fired on at Tien-Tsin May 4 by some Ger
man soldiers guarding a German bridge
across the Pei-Ho, and on which the Times
dDated SO strongly. has not vet been re-
ported to the foreign Office and so far re-
mains purely local matter, no represen-
tatfons or inquiries having passed between
London and Berlin. In the absence Of off,
cial information the press accounts of the
affair certainly do not tend to diminish the
slight friction which exists between Great
Britain and Germany over the far eastern
policy.
National Employer Association.
An important development in the for1na-
tion Of the National Federation of EN-
ployers' Association and trades unions oc-
CURED this week, when labor leaders, men, |
bers Of the house Of commons and enl-
ployers met in London to discuss the de-
tails of the organization. 1t will be re-
membered that the movement had It's in
ception through the keenness Of American
commercial competition. Among those |
present at the meeting were two members |
of the house of commons, Charles Bill, con-
servative and Hugh Crawford Smith, lib
eIal-unionist; representatives of the
miners, boiler makers, shipbuilders, litho- |
graphic and other unions and several large
ship builders and factory owners. John
Locke, the well-knoWn student Of labor
problems and founder of the National Fed
Grafton, announced that forty organized
labor bodies had expressed their willing
ness to join. 1t was suggested that the
plan be made International and that
American cooperation be invited, but 1t
was decided that the time was not yet ripe,
especially as defense is one of the main |
features of the idea.
1t was decided to press a vigorous cam
paign in the united kingdom to bring the
masters and men into a federation by
which the interests Of all trades would be
furthered and methods adopted to pre-
serve the prosperity of the various indus |
tries, which, 1t is admitted, have been en- |
dangered.
Mr.. Hays Memorandum.
ha i'm CT of ha Rr-ifiSh l
foreign office in reference to an isthmian |
canal treaty are those forwarded by Lord |
Pauncefote about ten days ago. In au- |
thoritative quarters it is stated that these |
consist mainly of a memorandum In which |
Mr.. Hay indicates on what lines a treaty |
should be drawn in order to meet the views |
of the United States senators with whom
he has conferred. This appears to concur |
with the London view that the papers |
cover the draft of proposals for a treaty, |
rather than treaty itself as the written |
memorandum is regarded as chiefly tenta- |
tive. With these papers before them the |
British officials can readily perceive within |
what lines it will be necessary to frame |
treaty In order to secure its ratification by |
the Senate
1t is stated in diplomatic quarters that |
the negotiations on the Newfoundland |
shore agreement have been under discus |
sion for the last year. These are be-
tween the British and French govern |
ments, and the United States has not been |
party to them in any way. 1t Is eX- |
planned that under the treaty Of Utrecht |
France has the exclusive privilege Of TAX |
ing free bait along a considerable portion |
Of the Newfoundland coast The English |
fishermen cannot take the bait without |
paying for 1t, and this has given an ad- |
vantage to the French fishermen, which |
has brought several clashes between |
them, threatening to involve the govern |
ments. While the British authorities do |
not question the French rights under the |
treaty, they are anxious in the interests |
Of peace in that locality to have them |
changed so that the bait privilege may be |
open. France has thus far been reluctant, |
however. as the Breton fishermen are
Jealous of their privileges. since 1t IL their |
mafy source OF livelihood: and moreover
the French government has secured an ad-
vantage in making this locality q training
headquarters for the hardy young men |
who are to go into the French navy. The
reference in London dispatches to COM
pensations which may be made to France |
In other quarters Of the globe is thought |
to relate to territorial issues in South |
Africa and some other points where terri
tory Ia in question.