Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-22
ENGLAND NEEDS THE CANAL
A PLEA TO PERMIT THE UNITED
STATES rere IT.
Novel View of the rse Proposed in
the Interest oGHreat Brit
aims Coningerce. .-.

From the London Spectator
1t is evident from tie tsnor of the tele-
grams from Washington Aflat the Nicara-
qua canal is once again bseoming the SUBJ
ject of discussion between the governments
of England and AmericE That being so,
we most sincerely trust sthat our govern
ment will handle the problem with more
care and attention than hitherto and also
with more shrewdness and common sense.
If they approach it and try to solve it on
conventional diplomatic lines, they are
certain to make a mess of 1t, and to get
neither credit nor influence nor material
benefits for this country. The temptations
to our foreign office to go wrong on the
matter are strong, andSt is greatly to be
feared that they will yield to those tempta-
tions. Undoubtedly we hold all the diplo-
matte cards in the game and If we care TO
play for a diplomatic victory We can gain
complete success of that kind with the
greatest possible ease. The Senate holds
the ultimate power in the negotiations, and
the Senate Is almost certain, if the matter
Is not settled before 1t next meets, to be-
have from the point Of view of internatfon-
al law and usage in the most indiscreet
and Objectionable way possible. The SEN
ate, partly because that body is jealous of
Mr.. McKinley's administration, partly be-
cause 1t is ignorant OF diplomatic usage
and cares little or nothing about the good
faith observed between diplomatists, and
partly also because 1t would enjoy the glo-
ry and excitement of getting UP a row
with Great Britain which could be made
the excuse for a good deal of forid oratory
about the sacred right Of the United States
TO 40 anything 1t pleases In exactly the
way 1T pleases. is sure to lay itself open to
be trumpet and "held' at every possihle
point. 1t will, we have no doubt. be quite
ready to pass resolutions abrogating treat
les 1t has no right to abrogate; it will tear
up the most solemn obligations: it will re-
fuse to submit to arbitration matters which
clearly ought to be submitted to arbit ra
tlon' ana: generally. it may be expected to
give itself away completely that the
diplomatic victory will be ours at every
point WY
The Canal is Needed
But admitting fully, as We do, that we
can easily permit the Senate to mt the
United States utterly In the wrong. while
we remain entirely In the right, we want
to ask whether it will be worth our while
to let the question develop on these lines
We want statesmen and their master
the nation, to put all the mere dplomatic
rights and wrongs aside and to consider tho
problem solely on its merits-to inquire
not whether we have right to stop the
canal being made under the conditions on
which alone Congress will sanction the CON
struct1on, but whether it Is worth our
while to stop it's construction, and. on the
other hand. whether 1t will not be yery
much to our advantage to have the canal
made. We want the whole subject an
preached as if the Clayton Bulwer treaty
did not exist, and decided on its merits In
our belief. the decision, after an impartial
inquiry. will be % that 1t is to our inter-
ests to have the canal made, and "a that
1t Is to our interests that America shall
make the canal and be it's guardian and
protector. subject to the provision that the
canal shall always be open to our shipping
on equal terms and that there shall be no
differentiation of dues against u.s. If this
Is the true decision. then let us not stand
on our technical right to exact more from
the United States but, ignoring the i'll
manners OF the Senate, agree to let Amer
lea make the canal under any financial or
political conditions she chooses provided
always that our shipping Is free to use the
canal on terms enjoyed by American YES
sells or by those of any other power If
those terms are secured we shall gain all
we want. and shall enjoy the material ad-
Vantages that must flow to the greatest of
maritime nations by the increase of water
facilities.
Is the Treaty Worth a War;
Let us consider for a moment what will
happen IL we do not adopt this view, but
stand strictly on our rights under the Clay