New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-21
THE CANAL TREATY.

Panama gets 10 work promptly. II renewed
and perfected its old secession from Colombia
largely in order 10 secure the canal which Co
lombia had refused TO accept Now it has made
a treaty for the construction of that canal.
Doubtless the treaty win soon be ratified,
whether with or without amendment careful
consideration will determine; work will be be-
gun by the only power competent TO do it and
70 maintain it. and in a few more years the
dream Of centuries and the desire of the CON-
mercial world viii be fulfilled.
The chief provisions Of the treaty were pub
ushed in or columns yesterday. The first Of
them IS that the United states viii guarantee
and maintain the independence Of Panama.
That. we assume. was and is a matter Of course.
1t is merely a reaffirmation Of the New-Grana-
dan treaty Of 1876 Under that the United
States agreed to maintain the neutrality Of the
isthmus against all corners. Now the isthmus
end the Republic Of Panama are practically one
and the same In maintaining the neutrality OF
the one we shall be maintaining the indepen-
dence Of the other. Such neutrality and indie
pencence are, moreover a sine qua non TO our
construction Of the canal Americans would not
build even railroad on the isthmus without a
guarantee that it would not be subject to seiz-
ure by some foreign power. Still more, the
United States government would not build a far
more costly canal without such assurance.
Again Panama cedes To the United States
ten miles strip across the isthmus and such
other lands as may be necessary for the canal.
on which this country is TO exercise the same
power and authority 'as If it were sovereign. -
The latter clause indicates the character OF the
cession. IL is not political but merely CONNER
cial cession The United States is not i'm a
political sense acquiring territory or annexing
new lands TO its domain. IL is getting a con-
cession Of land, for a specified purpose; just as
American railroad builders or miners have got
concessions Of land IN Mexico and China and
Japan and other countries. In the present case
the concession is perpetual, as is fitting seeing
that the use TO he made Of it is perpetual. In
brief the United States gets such security for
the enormous investment which il proposes TO
make as any prudent business man would re-
ouire and il is invested with the power and au-
fhority which are necessary for the safeguard
ing Of lis property and for the right exercise Of
its trusteeship for the commercial world.
For there is a certain moral trusteeship. The
canal is not 10 be a mere territorial waterway
Of the United States. 1t is TO be neutral and
free 70 all the world, and its terminals are 10
be free ports. Obviously, however, TO be thus
free the canal must be under the guardianship
Of some power strong enough TO maintain that
freedom, and that power, in the very nature
OF the case. must be the United States, and the
United States alone. Therefore this country is
empowered TO use such forces along and near
the canal on land and sea. as may be neces-
sary for the protection of it, and this country
ttself is 10 be the judge Of such necessity. 1t is