New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-09
WOULD FORT|FY CANAL
American Rights Undoubted, Say
Senators Root and Money.
TREATIES USELESS IN WAX
Dreams of Peace a Deluslon,
Says Observation-Disclosures
Correspondence Reviewed.
From Tho rrlhnne Bureau. J


Washington, Feb. S.-The question OF ioi
tifying tho Panama Canal was raised !"
the Senate to-day by Mr.. Money the M
norty leader. who I'm a long speech criti-
cised those who propose that the protect'o"
Of Tho great waterway shah be ie't -
treaty. Senator Root, who. as forihe.
Secretary of state. speaks with the "e'e
Of authority. i'm brief but effective renia' NJ
concurred I'm Senator Moneys concIus'o"'
pointing out tho ineHectiveness OF trea''e'
In time of war.
"AIl these dreams of peace" said Senato'
Money. ARE the baseless fabric OF Vis'o"'
They arc delusion. 1t VIII be necessa'!
TO eliminate from human nature ever
trace OF greed and ambition before tn'
Ideas they suggest will be- pracucapIe.
These people advocate the neutralizins OF
the Panama Canal with the best idea IN inc
world But they are for the most part
Bishops and clergy. professors, emotional
writers and offete statesmen. who are NOV
and never viii be capable Of taking adVan'
tage of practical business opportunities
why should the United States be Insult
81 by its own people or by English peope
who suggest that a canal over which II
has undspu,ed sovereignty shall he neu-
tralized with the consent of other nations
do not suppose there is a man VINO De-
lieyes that the government undertook TINS
great work. costing A0oOOO,OO, for the sake
OF it's commercial advantages alone. 1t
was simply for its strategic value, ana
nothing else
Mr.. Money reviewed the diplomatic CORE
spondence printed in The Tribune some
time ago in which Lord LansdOwne ac-
knowledged the authority and desirability
Of the United States terrifying the canal
He pointed out that Great Britain had LEFT
it's defence solely in the hands Of the
United States. and said that 1t was evident
that Great Britain. having removed the
forts at Kingston and the dock yards at
Port Royal, was relying on our good Will
lie also pointed out that the ten-mile strip
on the isthmus was coded 10 the United
States in perpetuity, and said that we shall
always exercise our right of sovereignty in
time of war. He drew an example from
the action Of Great Britain in placing fort
resses in the Mediterranean before assent
ing to the scheme for the SueZ Canal. In
the clash OF war" he said, treaties are
silent. At the first cannon shot all condi-
tons change and treaty obligations are for
gotten"
Mr. Root expressed entire accord with Mr..
Moneys conclusions, drawing attention par
tlcularly 10 the futility of treaty obliSa-
lions when war arose. I'VE must not for
get" he said. when the project Of neu-
trality Is proposed that all the unjust wars
OF the world in modern times at least. have
been wagcd Notwithstanding treaties of
peace. No treaty We can negotiate for the
protection of the Panama Canal can be OF
more binding effect than the treaties that
have existed and have interposed feeble
barriers between nations In the wars of the
past The idea OF defending the canal by
stationing battleships at either end is also
impracticable. How can thousand men
shut within steel walls exist I'm the broiine
tropical climate if kept there permanently,
a. they would have TO be?'