New-York tribune., 1901-10-26
PART III.
FOUR PAGES.
CANAL DIPLOMACY.
,rcA AsTS OF THE NEW TREATY,
WITH ANALoGIEs FROM sUEZ AND
MORALS FOR GOOD ANGLO
AMERICANS.
London, October l6.

London, October 16.
new chapter OF canal diplomacy will be
..orrbt 10 close when Lord Pauncefote re-
.r,s 10 washington and a treaty which has
,.sn practically arranged is formally negoti-
- His influence here has been exerted con-
.,,uously during HIS long holiday in the direc-
-, of a settlement OF the canal question. and
!. has displayed tact. practical intelligence
"a patience in removing objections to Secretary
u.v,s proposals and in creating an atmosphere
s,r new convention. His work has been done
,siuly in country houses where he has met
npsters and the principal men Of the opposl-
.a,r bench Unless all signs fail, he has opened
,hs WAY for a favorable reception in England
"a treaty which will be ratified without Sc
,ous obiection when IL is submitted to the Sem
.,s nv President Roosevelt. The tangled skein
:, ausl diplomacy Will al last be unravelled
,ser half q century Of wranglng and misunder-
stsndins.
whenever two nations find out for themselves
that II they are just. generous and helpful TO
oue another they will have a common share In
,bs benefits Of association and friendship. a
nrsctioal basis for mutual service is established.
ssfinterest rather than sentiment must be the
foundation Of the settlement OF the canal con-
,roversy Great Britain possesses under
IN, Clayton-Bulwer Convention a partnership
right which is Of practical value The canal
could not be constructed under existing arrange
ments. and even if the work could be under
taken the dual control would be a source OF
danger. as il was in Egypt before the English
occupation. BY giving up an imperative privi-
lege which is insurmountable obstacle TO a
great work for commerce and civilization. and
which has been fertile source Of misunder-
standing and bad feeling, England Will not only
fr,la in Sngr Of
notation 10 the United States. but she will also
promote her own interests a new interoceanic
waterway viii be OF great utility 10 British
commerce. and viii be provided at the expense
OF the United States The control OF that water
way win be vested in a single power and il
will be an offset to the practical control of the
suez Canal by Lord Cromer. at Cairo; and this
will be convenient ground for justifying in
definite occupation Of Egypt in negotiations
with France and Russia. English control OF
the Suez Canal is now necessary; il Will be rem
dered logical and inevitable by American con-
no OF a Panama or a Nicaragua canal. More
over while dual control of the waterway
may be relinquished, England viii be in a ST.
perior position 10 any other European power. by
virtue Of the possession Of naval strongholds
and coaing stations on the line Of approach to
the canal The negotiation of the treaty will be
q
other. and the Alaska boundary and other
Canadian questions viii be likely TO be settled
by the United States more favorable terms
The adjustment Of all outstanding controversies
viii be an assurance Of permanent Anglo-Ameri-
can peace All these advantages Will be ac-
CURED by the sacrifice Of barren privilege Of
an antlquated canal convention, and England
win gain substantial compensations without
ouid pro quo bargaining.
In the negotiations for new canal treaty
the requirements Of war must necessarily be
considered, but experience has shown that a
waterway between oceans is an instrument OF
peace. There has been no European war over
the suez Canal The British occupation OF
Egypt involved the suppression OF Arabi's re-
volt, and this has been the only approach 10
hostilities since the canal was opened. There
might easily have been a European war over
the canal IL Egypt had remained under dual
control; but the risks were minimized when
England became the power behind the throne
in Cairo. and the analog1es favor single in
preference 10 joint control at Panama or in
Nicaragua. So long as India approached
from the Cape its defence was difficult Since
the suez Canal passed under British control
the safety Of India is assured. Russian aggres-
sion is no longer dreaded. and French intrigue
is harmless even when an army OF two hun
ored thousand men has been employed for two
years in South Africa. The Suez Canal has
Strengthened England's hold upon India. and
diverted her attention from Constantinople. and
In this way II has diminished the liabilities OF
European war and promoted the interests OF
peace. Analogy points 10 a similar result In
the Western Hemisphere. An interoceanic
camel viii facilitate the concentration Of the
American Navy for the defence OF the Atlantic.
Gulf and Pacific seaboards. and IL Will also be
an Invaluable safeguard for the protection of
the Philippine Islands. Hawaii and Porto Rico.
The United States with the canal under its con-
'rol VIII be less liable to foreign attack be-
cause II viii be IN a better position for defence.
Moreover. the interests of commerce. which will
be promoted by the waterway. win place all
governments under restraint and will thereby
tend 10 lessen the chances Of war.
The new interoceanic waterway. moreover,
VIII be a better safeguard against war than the
euez Canal because il can be less readily ap-
rrOached by European fleets from naval and
coaAng stations. Russia. Italy. France and
Great Britain can easily coal and equip fleets
ior naval operations against Port Said; but
England is the only European power which has
facilities in the West Indies for fighting naval
war for the control of canal at Panama or in
Nicaragua. Germany has foOthold in that
quarter, and will have none il the Danish ISL
anus are purchased by the United States as
an Indispensable outwork for the defence OF
forto Rico and the canal Russia and ltaly
are without territory in the West Indies. and
while France has Guadeloupe and Martinique
There are no harbors which can he converted
INTO naval and coaling stations. England VIII
De on guard at Santa Lucia and Port Royal
with naval strongholds and an adequate coaling
uase for war in the Caribbean Sea; but other
wise the United States viii not be in danger
rom Europe. Naval warfare cannot be con-
Quoted without coaling stations close at hand.