The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-25
a BRITISH VIEW OF THE CANAL QUESTION.

most sensible view the isthmian canal question
as seen British interests is taken By the
London Spectator The Of that ably conducted
periodical correctly opines that the gain Of diplomatic
victory in the would of particular advantage
to the British government Taking for granted that it
would be easy permit the to put the United
States wrong by the abrogaon Of solemn treaty
without the consent the party other part the
Spectator pernenty what the achievement would
be worth, and proceeds TO remark:
On that case is quite evlGent from the and
per opinion that Of two things must hap
pen. the Americans viii refuse further negoa-
TONS and the canal viii not be dug Gin which We
shall lose the great advantages which would
from the new isthman waterway they did from the
Suez waterway OF else the Americans contrary to all
international right usage viii up the Clayton
Bulwer treaty and viii tell that il want stop the
construction Of canal American terms we must do
by force"
While British wrath might rise to red heat under such
challenge it is quite evident the mains
tenanee of the Clayton-Buwer treaty would be waged
exclusively in the public prints, and while barrels Of
printers would probably flow, there would blood
shed the quarrel Whether the British nation should
fight the treaty not in either # would
lose should succeed in preventing the consruc-
ton OF the canal would deprive itself of whatever
mercal benefits might the opening 18TH
shipway it. the other hand John Bull should
cline back up his possumus with blows he would
merely expose himself to unnecessary humiliation
In the opinion OF the Spectator whole subject should
be approached though the ClaytonBuwer treaty had
existed and should discussed entirely its
merits When thus approached says the Spectator wiz
appear that ct (Grea Butams) interests to have
the canal made and that it is interests
ica shall make the its guardian and protector
subject provision canal shall always be
open shipping equal terms and there shall
be differentiation of duties against US this is the
decision stand on our technical right
TO exact from the United States
The claim of the Americans that they should be at
with another they be allowed to the
canal to protect the national safety use themselves
their vessels but allow the eneny ships to do
SOS conceded only natural The canal viii have
been madeby American public money or by means OF an
American subsidy says Spectator 'and the Ameri
cans therefore tolerate the ever being
used TO endauger the republic But Britain would
give real advantage by bowling to American pub
lie opinion in this regard. Every lock canal viii
be worked by American engineers; every pilot employed
in conducting vessels through the passage VIII be an
American Even the waterway should remain unfortifed
ungarrsoned by American military force does any
believe that the commander of fleet hostile to
United would undertake to use the canal al
the risk CT remaining bottled up therein end the
war?
AS TO the other point dispute-namely the coumuni
cation of Of the canal treaty the other pow
order that their adherence thereto may be obtained
the Spectator believes DO some Americans that the
objections to this provso are ABSURD But tits not any part
Of the duty Of the British government to hinder the Aeri-
can people from raising hornets nest Germany France
and Italy and the other maritime powers VIII fail TO
assert their rights to the basis the ost
favored nation and enjoy the privileges granted TO
any other people or reserved TO Americans with respect
TO the navigation OF the shpway the payment tolls and
the transit of aer ships of Tbe canal regulations
viii become recognized enough part Of the public
law Of the world without any fussng over the matter on
the part Of Great Britain These stated briefly posi-
bic are the views Of representative and intelligent Brit
isn writer on the canal controversy