Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-12
GOVERNMENT
SENDS ITS RESPONSE
TO THE AMENDMENTS MADE BY
THE SENATE TO THE HAY
PAuNCEFOTE TREATY.
BRITAIN REFUSES TO ACCEPT.
But LEAVES NO OPENING FOR FUR
THEIR ACTION UPON
ITS PART.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE long
expected answer from the British gov
eminent to the State Departments
communication reciting the action of
he Senate upon the Hay-Pauncefots
treaty, was returned al noon to-day.
Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassa-
dor, already had acquainted Secre-
tary Hay with the fact that he had
received a communication from his
government on the subject, and 1t is
believed it has been in his possession
for several days.
Secretary Hay had acquired a gener-
al knowledge of the character OF the
British response.
Lord ~Pauncefote came to the State
department. at noon by appointment
and he brought the answer with him,
and read it to Secretary Hay. 1t was,
in form, an instruction from Lord
Lansdowne, the British minister of
foreign affairs, to Lord Pauncefote,
and of this instruction he left a copy
with Secretary Hay.
The Secretary and the ambassador
were cloSeted for Mlf an hour. At the
conclusion of the conference, it was
stated that the instruction to Lord
Pauncefote was to notify the govern
ment OF the United States that the
British government did not see it's
way clear to the acceptance of the
Senate amendments. The amendments
were treated in detail at some length,
in argumentative fashion, the purpose
Of the British government being to
show that it had sound reason for de-
clining to accept them.
After disposing of the details, the
note concluded with an expression OF
regret that such a course was forced
upon the British government.
There was nothing in the nature Of
a counter-proposition, nor was any
opening left for further action by the
British government. 1t was stated
that if there is to be a further at
tempt to amend the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, so as to authorize the United
States to construct a waterway across
the Isthmus. then it is for the United
States to make the overture; the Brit
ish government simply drops the mat
ter at this point.
Secretary Hay carried the commune
cation to the White House to talk with
the President as to the future action
of the Department.
The impression prevails that there
will be no immediate action looking
toward the negotiation of a treaty.
No opportunity offered this after
noon for the conference between the
President and Secretary Hay respect
ing the British answer, therefore 1t
cannot yet be stated what action. IL
any, will be taken by Jul government.
1t is stated that there is no hurry. even
in the event that it shall be decided
to invite Great Britain to join in fresh
negotiations as to an Isthmian canal,
Congress not being In session, to con-
slider a treaty il one should be framed
The belief seems to be warranted that
there would be no further negotiations
on the subject in the immediate future,
unless some event not o foreaeen by
the officials causes a radical change Ia
the situation.
For the present the text of the Brit
ish answer will be withheld from pub
LEGATION, ON this side of the water at
least, though it is said that after the
President has thoroughly considered
the matter, some general statement
may be made as to the points devel-
oDed.
The British answe ris quite long, as
such documents go, and wouli make
about two newspaper columns. The
tone of the reply is distinctly friendly
throughout, particularly so in the con-
Guiding assurance of good will and a
desire to cooperate in the realization
of this undertaking Although the text
is withheld, it is understood that the
answer takes up each OF the three
amendments made by the Senate. and
presents the difficulties In the way OF
asserting to them. AS to the amend
ment which struck out all that clause
of the treaty inviting other maritime
nations to concur in the neutralising
Of the canal, the British view Is that
while the United States and Great
Britain can bind themselves By treaty
to neutralize the canal, they cannot
make this action binding on all other
governments unless these governments
concur.
AS to the entire abb ogation OF the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, as provided by
one of the Senate amendments. it ap-
pears to the British view that such
a step is too fa~r-reaching to be taken
without some negotiation in which the
British side Of the case is presented.
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