The Washington times., 1901-12-10
TO PRESS NEW
CANAL TREATY.
Senator Lodge Hopes For a
Vote Before Recess.
OPPOSITION TO STATE THEIR VIEWS.
No Other Delay, Expected More
Definite Language Desired Mr..
Morgan to Exert His Influence
with Democrats.

The new Nicaragua Canal treaty was
reported to the Senate in executive ses-
Foreign Relations. together with the fav-
orable recommendation of that commit
/ tee. and was placed on the executive cal
ender.
Senator Lodge. In charge Of the treaty,
moved in the executive session of the
Senate yesterday to remove the iniunc-
| tiou of secrecy, and this action was taken.
The treaty was published in the news
papers last Thursday Mr.. Lodge gave
notice that he will ask the Senate to con-
slider the treaty every day until disposed
of. and he hopes to get vote before the
holiday recess.
Immediate Action Improbable.
The statement so widely reported that
Senator CullOm will ask that-the vote be
taken next Friday at 3 o'clock is errone-
Gus. Not even the most enthusiastic
friends OF the treaty entertain the hope
that the discussion, will end SO soon as
this. and. indeed, II is not at all certain
that ratification can be secured during
the present month. There is no organized
opposition to the treaty, it is true, but
there are a number OF Senator's on both
sides of the chamber who are not at all
earnest or eager in its behalf
To Oppose Ratification
Senator's Bacon and Money. Democratic
members OF the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, will speak and vote against the
treaty. and several OF their colleagues.
including Senator Bailey of Texas, de-
clare they win fight to the bitter end"
against ratification. They claim that the
canal will be no more of an American
waterway now than it would have been
under the rejected convention. and that
they viii never agree to it until the lam
guage in regard to the right OF the Unit
ed States TO fortify in their own way and
AT their own time is made so plain and
unequivocal that there can be no possi-
hility of misconstruction.
Specific Phrases Preferred.
Moreover. very prominent Republican
Senator said yesterday that while he
thought the treaty would be ratified
eventually and that he would vote for it,
he was not at all satisfied with its Lam
guage. and that he cannot understand
why. If the United States had its own
way in drafting the treaty. they did not
state specifically in plain English exactly
what they want. However. he said he
thought that for all practical purposes
the treaty is all right, and that therefore
he would support It and would aid in
having it ratified at an early day.
An OpffuISfi,. Ni.xx
1T disposes OF the Clayton Bulwer
treaty" he said; and If We should have
a war with England the treaty would
fall. Of course. and If we had a war with
anybody else England would be with us
in controlling the canal. so don't see
but what practically the bargain is good
enough
There are other Senator's who think as
this one does. that plain Anglo-Saxon
might have been used rather than diplo-
matte phrases in framing this treaty.
especially in view OF Secretary Hays re-
cent announcement that the day of di-
plomacy, so-called. had gone by. and that
now nations settled their affairs by plain
heart-to- heart talks.
To Hasten Final Action.
Senator Morgan. who voted for the
treaty in committee. is in favor Of it and
will do all he can to soiidify his Demo-
cratic colleagues for an early vote.
1t is too early yet to say how much op-
position will present itself as the treaty
has not yet been discussed In the Senate.
After today's executive session IL will be
less difficult to estimate the situation.
Senator Lodge is frank in saying that he
does not think that there will be any or
ganized opposition to ratification
Mr.. knoX's Nomination
The nomination Of Phllander C. Knox.
of Pennsylvania. to be Attorney General |
of the United States was favorabiy re- |
ported from the Committee on Judiciary. |
and under the rules went over until to- |
day without action.
The Senate confirmed the nominations |
of some twenty-five Consuls VINO were |
appointed during the recess Of Congress
ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL.