The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-03

construction OF the Isthmian canal on
our terms than we had been during the
preceding eighty years. BY the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, ratified in December
1901. an old treaty with Great Britain,
which had been held to stand in the way,
was atrogated and it was agreed that
the canal should be constructed under
the auspices of the Government of the
United States, and that this Government
should have the exclusive right to re-
gulate and manage it. becoming the sole
guarantor of its neutrality.
1t was expressly stipulated, further
more that this guaranty of neutrality
should not prevent the United States
from taking any measures which it found
necessary in order to secure by its own
forces the defense of the United States
and the maintenance of public order. I'M
mediately following this treaty Congress
passed a law under which the President
was au.hcrz"d to endeavor TO secure
treaty for acquiring the right to finish
the construction of, and to operate, the
Panama Canal which had already been
begun in the territory of Colombia by
French company. The rights of this COM
pany were accordingly obtained and
treaty negotiated with the Republic of
Columbia This treaty has iust been
ratified by the Senate. 1t reserves all
of Colombia's rights, while guaranteeing
all of our own and those of neutral
nations, and specifically permits us to
take any and all measures for the de-
fense of the canal, and for The preserva-
tion of our interests whenever in our
judgment an exigency may arise which
calls for action on our part In other
words, these two treaties, and the legis-
lation to carry them out, have resulted
in our obtaining on exactly the terms we
desired the rights and privileges which
we had so long sought in vain. These
treaties are among the most important
that we have ever negotiated in their Of
fects upon the future welfare of this
country, and mark a memorable triumph
of American diplomacy-one of those
fortunate triumphs, moreover, which re-
bounds to the benefit of the entire world.
About the same time trouble arose in
connection with the Republic Of Vene-
zuela because of certain wrongs alleged
to have been committed, and debts over
due by this Republic to citizens of vari-
Gus foreign powers, notably England,
Germany, and Italy. After failure to
reach an agreement those powers began
blockade of the Venezuelan coast and
condition of quasi-war ensued. The
concern of our Government was of course
not to interfere needlessly in any quarrel
so far as it did not touch our interests
or our honor. and not to take the atti-
ture of protecting from coercion any
power unless we were willing to espouse
the quarrel of that power, but to keep
an attitude of watchful vigilance and see
that there was no infringement of the
Monroe Doctrine-no requirement of
territorial rights by a European power
at the expense of weak sister repub-
lic-whether this acquision might take
the shape of an outright and avowed
seizure of territory or OF the exercise Of
control which would in effect be equival-
ent to such seizure. This attitude was
expressed in the two following published
memoranda, the first being the letter ad-
dressed by the Secretary of State to the
German Ambassador, the second the con"
versation with the Secretary of State re-
ported by the British Ambassador:
Department of State,
Washington, December 16 1901.
His Excellency
DR.. Won Holleben. ETC.:
Dear Excellency: l inclose a men,
orandum by way of reply to that which
you did me the honor to leave with me
on Saturday, and am, as ever.
| Faithfully yours,
JOHN HAY.