The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-20
WAS NO CEREMONY
SIGNING OF THE NEW HAY.
 PAUNCEFoTE TREATY.
Gold Pen in Silver Stan Was Used by the Secretary of State-The
 Covenants Provisions.

Washington, Nov. 19.-Tbe new Hay Pauncefote Canal Treaty. which wa. signed yesterday by MT. Hay ana Loro Pauncefote, is intended to replace the first Hay-Pauncefote treaty. That con yention was amended so extensively by the United States Senate at its last ses- sion that the British government decnn- ed to ratify it. Within few weeks, ne tary Hay and Lord Pauncefote. which have just resulted in the signature oi the new treaty drawn with especial rel erence to the objections found by the new sense of courtesy which must be observ- ed toward the United States Senate wherever treaty Is concerned, the State Department is stopped from max ing public the text of the new convenI ven, the Senate itself shall break the conn., dence.
 It is said that at the State Department the various publications which have been made of the alleged text of the treaty, are all erroneous and conjecturai, al- though in view of the rather free aomis- sions that have been made for the pur- poses of the negotiators, it has been pos sible by the use of the text Of the first treaty to construct one similar in gen. eral terms to the new convention. The principal point of difference between the new and failed treaty is the withdrawal of Great Britain from the joint guaran- tee of the neutrality of the canal. thus leaving the United States the sole guar antor. The excision of the old provision respecting the right to fortify the canal leaves that right by inference optional whatever nationality passing through the canal will fare alike they will be no dis crimination in rates in favor of the Uni ted States shipping.
 Otherwise tn new treaty is in scope similar to last years treaty. It replaces technically the Clayton-Bulwer treaty concluded on April 19. 1850. By the terms of that old convention the United States and Great Britain agreed that neither should seek any advantage in rights of transit across the isthmus. By the new convention Great Britain yields her right in favor of the United States. which is thus at liberty to construct a canal.
 Nothing more remains to be done as far as this treaty Is concerned before the Senate meets or indeed until the or amended. If it should be ratified, the State Department will proceed immedi- ately to negotiate the treaties with Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for which it already the Senate. which will permit the canal to be constructed and prescribe the terms upon which the consent of Nica- ragua and Costa Rica Is given. It was in anticipation of this acton, 1t is pre-. stunned that the Nicaraguan Government only recently denounced the treaty oi trade and commerce with the United States.
 This treaty contained sections convey ing rights as to canal construction which are to be replaced by modern provisions
 There was no particular ceremony con, nected with the signatures yesterday oi the important convention. Lord Paunce' fote has been indisposed for several days past. and 1t was not expected that tht treaty could be signed before the enc of the current week; However to the surprise of the State Department officials the Ambassador appeared about noon anC the work of signing the treaty was soor % disposed of. The scene was in the his toric chamber of the State Department and besides the principals. Secretary Ha! and Lord Pauncefote. there were pres ent MT. Sidney Smith, chief of the Dip | lomatic Bureau of the State Department | MT. Percy windham, the Second Secre tary of the British Embassy. and VII | liam Gwynn and Edward Savoy. the See retary of States private messenger | ing of the seals. The treaty was signed by Secretary Hay with gold pen In | silver pen-holder. which had been use' in the signing of other conventions am is the personal property of the Secretary