Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-03-28
TIE BRITISH ANSWER
~ Reasons Why the Amended
Treaty Could Not Be Accepted.
Ml1E AMENDMENTS CONSIDERED.
o. Clause Permitting Defensive Measures
4 fDf Canal Another ForbIddIng FORTH.
SstiOns = Desire OF the British to
Meet the United States Views.

0tsOno VI INV sftfth'sa ~
Meet the United States Views.
Washington, March 26.--The answer
Of the British government express
ing its inability to accept the Hay
Pauncefote treaty in the form amend
ed by the United States senate was
made public yesterday. 1t is in the
form of a communication from Lord
Lansdowne, British minister Of for
elGn affairs, to Lord Pauneefote, and
asks the latter to read the dispatch to
the secretary of state and to leave q
copy in his hands.
v Lord Lansdowne begins by showing
that there was no desire on the part
Of the British government to change
the Clayton Bulwer treaty. But some
Of its provisions, he says, had been
regarded with disfavor by the govern
ment of the United States, and in the
presidents message of December, 1893,
II was urged thst the national policy
called more imperatively than ever
for the control" of the projected
highway by the government of the
United States. Lord Pauncefote made
inquiry Of the secretary of state as
to this attitude Of the president, the
result being summarized by Lord
LAnsdownc as follows: "In reply, the
views of the United States govern
ment were very frankly and openly
explained. You were most emphat-
lcally assured that the president had
no intention whatever Of ignoring the
Clayton-Bulwer convention and that
be would Loyalty observe treaty slip
ulations. But in view Of the strong
national feeling in favor of the con-
etruction OF q Nicaragua canal and OF
tAe improbabillty of the work being
accomplished by private enterprise,
the United States government was
prepared to undertake II themselves
npon obtaining the necessary powers
from congress. For that purpose,
however, they must endeavor, by
friendly negotiations, to obtain the
I consent OF Great Britain to such
modification Of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty as, without affecting the gen
eral principle" therein declared. would
enable the great object In view to be
accomplished for the benefit Of the
world"
ratcr tbe ,ntrod,,c,,on ~ the Nic.
sracuo capal mi In coryress rs,iyod
attention IN the frenzy ond n was
sccsnted Tord 1ansdo,vne q, vino.
s14er moiestv's oovernment affair dne
xcr.,de,otior detorm;nod to ,ooont
AZ convention urconditiorallv nc n
sisna, nroof NJ their friendly J;snovi
Aim nnd or their deeire not r. innodo
~. svoort;or ~ rro;..t aoo,ona5 o.
e ~ ratiopal Importance IN tho noo
~ ~ tbe Initial stotes.
lord rorsJowro thor oors;,,o.. A..
( serata nmendmepts deo,arino thot tho
CIavton. pulyer treotv IL "hsrohv en-
s,ersededr onnoslnr tb,s cortontion
~ ~, rost .tress howo,or ,,non H.
nther senate omordmort. ,n1 sa,s
thev nresert moro rorr,,Johlo ,,M
.rIties IN thoso ho sara, "rho ana.
~ them which reseryes to tho Irn,.ad
$685. ~. NH. ~ . ,' w ."o o"''e'
tires which Il NAV find necessary 10
secure by It's own forces the defense
Of the United States appears to his
majesty's government to involve dis.
tinct departure from the principle
which has until now found accent
ance with both governments; the
principle, namely, that in time of war
~ well as in time of peace the mas.
sage of the canal is TO remain free
and unimpeded and is 10 he so mnin-
tained by the power or powers re-
sponsible for its control"
Respecting the contention TINT
there Ia a specifc prohibition IN the
Hay.pauncefote treaty against the