The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-01-20
NEUTRALIZE PANAMA CANAL.
Six Reasons Why the Big Ditch Should
Not Be Fortified.

Six reasons why the Panama Canai
sbonld he neutralized rather than fort'
fled are given in a statement made pup.
lie bv Richard Olney, ex-secretary OF
state. and signed by many prominent
/ Americans. The statement is as foi'
lows: -, !.
nWhy the Panama Canal should be
ncutralized, not fortified; ~ =,
One-Because the canal would De
safer in war time without fortlncation'
According to the agreement signed by
The Hapne Conference in 1907 unfortl.
fed coast places cannot be bombarded.
"Second-Because the original lnten-
tion of our government, as distinctly
EXPRESSED in 1900 and previously, was
TO prohibit Notifications on the canal.
Though this prohibition was omitted IN
tbe finally revised Hay-Pauneefote
treaty signed in 1902, this in no wise
implies that we ought to fortify 1t, nor
was its construction proposed as pm
marily a military undertaking.
"Third-Beeause, though the Suez
canal was built with English money,
England agreed to its naturalization.
The Straits of Magellan are also neu-
traliZed. and the Interparliamentary
Union in 1910 declared in favor of the
naturalization of all inter-oeeanic wa
terways.
'Fourth-Because the United States
in all its history has never been at
tackled, and began every foreign war 1t
ever had. and is too important Gus
toner for any great nation at this late
day to wantonly attack, Though an
enemy might in stress of war be tempt
ed to break its pledge with us, no ma
ton would dare break its neutrallza-
ton pledge with the combined Powers,
as the penalty of non-interc0urse,
which could be included in the general
treaty. would involve commercial rum.
9. Fifth-Because, with the expert
ence of nearly century's peace with
England, insured by our undefendeu
Canadian border line, until we have
asked for complete arbitration treaties
with all possible future enemies and
have been refused, we should be insln-
eere in increasing our war measures.
This is especially true in view of the
facts that. since 1902, the nations have
signed 100 arbitration treaties and
President Taft has made the impressive
declaration that he sees no reason
whv any question whatever should not
be arbitrated; that the second Hague
conference in various ways diminished
the likelihood of war; that not only the
prize court but the court of arbitral JUS
tee is practically assured; and that in
the summer of 1910 congress unanimous
" passed resolution asking the presi-
dent to appoint a commission of hve to
consider the utilization of existing
agencies to limit the ornaments OF the
world by mutual agreement OF the ma
tons, and to constitute the world ma
vies IAN international force for the
preservation of universal peace, and to
4 Nth np n al "
pendtures for military purposes.
nsSixth-Because in the words OF
Hon. David j. Foster, chairman of the
committee of foreign affairs in the
house of representatives.: "The initial
expense of the necessary Notifications
would not be less than $25,000,000; in
all probability it would not be less than
$50,000,000. The annual expense of
maintaining such Notifications 1000
miles from home would probably amount
to $5,000,000. With all the fortified
tons possible, it is still apparent that in
order that the canal might be of mill
tarv advantage to the United States
in time of war guard of battleships at
each of its entrances would be an abs0-
Lutte necessity. 1t is equally apparent
that with such guard the Notifications
would be unnecessary, if not entirely
useless. we are DOuHu Dy Solemn treaty
obligations to see to it that the canal
shall be and remain forever open to
British ships in time of war as well as
in time of peace, and while it is prob
ably true that no other nation could
claim any advantage by virtue of this
treaty, it is also true that we have
thereby placed ourselves under moral
obligation to maintain an open canal
for the ships of all nations at all times,
in war as well as in peace -