The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-17
Democrats Will Stand for
Two Amendments.
TO INSURE OUR CON TROL
This is One Amendman,---T The Other EnargeS
the Disayowal Of Our Intention Of
Land Grabbing so as TO
Include Mexico.
Include Mexico.


Washington, ~March lo.-Ine Deno~
cratic Senators at their caucus today re-
solved to stand together in the Senate in
support of two amendments to the Pana-
ma Canal treaty. One of these provides
for the ratification of the 23rd article
of the treaty so as to insure the control
of the canal zone by the United States
and the other enlarges the provision in
the fourth article of the treaty which is
a disavowaI of any intention on the part
of the United States to increase it's ter
ritory at the expense of Columbia or of
the sister republics in Central or South
American" so as to include Mexico
With reference to the latter amend
ment there was considerable debate.
Many of the Senators advocated an
amendment striking out the provision
entirely and practically all of them
agreed that it had no place in the agree
ment, but it was concluded that as it had
been incorporated and would probably
remain the best policy would be to
make an effort to modify rather than to
cause it was urged that the people of
that country are as sensitive as those of
any other about maintaining the integ-
rity OF their country and also as much
entitled to the guaranty as any other.
All the Democratic Senators except
Messrs. Dubois, Culberson Morgan. Nc
Laurin. Clarke. (Ark.), and Gibson, were
present. It was the understanding that
all the Democrats would support the two
amendments agreed upon, but that after
they are acted upon individually shall
be at liberty to vote for or against the
treaty as they may elect tt was also
the understanding that some of the Dem
ocratic Senators would support some of
Senator Morgan's individual amend
ments, but that they will do so as indi
vidual Senators and not as members of
the Democratic caucus.
Democratic Senators who participated
in the caucus say that whether amended
or not the treaty is sure of ratification.
The amendment suggested to the 23rd
article of the treaty giving the govern
ment of the United States the exclusive
right to police and protect the canal is
practically that offered by Senator Bacon
Saturday with some verbal changes.
This amendment makes the control Of
the United States over the canal abso-
lutte and exclusive and its right to police
and protect the same in under no cir
cumstances dependent upon the request
or invitation of the Republic of Colom-
bia.
The other amendment agreed upon was
|, to Article of the treaty, relating to the
policy Of the United States towards
other Central and South African Repub-
lies, the language of the amendment be-
ing as follows
'The United States following their uni
form established policy in regard to
their sister republics in America. freely
acknowledge AID recognize the sovereign
ty of the Republic of Colombia and dis
aVow any intention to impair it in any
way whatever or to increase their terri
tory at the expense of Colombia, but
most earnestly desire her peace and pros
perity."
After the adjournment of the caucus
Senator German as chairman, and Sena-
tor Carmack, as secretary of the caucus,
gave out the following statement con
corning the last mentioned amendment:
This amendment qualities the Ian
guage sof the treaty to the extent of max
ing a simple affirmation of the estab-
lished policy of the government against
the policy of territorial acquisition at
the expense of sister republics in Amer
lea and acknowledges the sovereignty of
the Republic of Colombia There was
strong objection to the language of the
treaty in this respect because it was
thought to be an impertinence to enter
into an engagement with Colombia for
the protection of other South American
republics, thus, in a manner recognizing
that republic as the representative of
all the others and giving her a sort of
primacy among them.
THE language of the treaty is also
broadened in that the amendment as
serts this policy of the United states with
reference to all the American republics
while the treaty confines it's pledges to
those of Central aud South America
studiously omitting Mexico. which is the
republic most sensitive and apprehonsive
Of aggressions in the part of the United
States.
THE language of the treaty also goes
on to the extent of declaring it to be the
policy of the United States to maintain
the separate independence of all the
Central and South American republics,
not solely as against European powers
but as against each other This was !
believed to be contrary to the true policy
of the United States which is not con
cerned with the internal arrangements
Of these republics but only with their |
defense and protection against the out