Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-07-26
Our Rights In The Canal.

From the Washington Post.
Article of the Clayton Bulwer treaty
contained the following provision;
THE governments of the United States
and Great Britain hereby declare that
neither the one nor the other will ever OBJ
tain or maintain for itself any exclusive
control over the said ship canal, agreeing
that neither will ever erect or maintain
any Notifications commanding the same,
or in the vicinity thereof, or occupy. or
f0rtify, or cOlOnize, or assume, or exercise
any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa RIGA,
the Mosquito Coast, or any part Of Central
America"
When the Clayton Bulwer treaty was
superseded by the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
the provision quoted above was nullified.
The United States thereupon reassumed
the right-which II never should have re-
linquished--to obtain and maintain exclu-
sive control over the isthmian canal. to erect
and maintain Notifications commanding
the same, and to assume and exercise
dominion over the canal territory.
Great Britain has made no protest what
ever against the Notification Of the canal,
thereby giving proof of acquiescence in
the notification of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty.
The United States exercises dominion
over the Canal Zone, and is in fact the
sovereign, as is shown by the following
provision Of the treaty with Panama;
THE republic of Panama grants to the
United States all the rights. power. and
authority within the zone mentioned and
described which the United
States would possess and exercise if il
were the sovereign Of the territory
to the entire exclusion Of the exercise by
the republic Of Panama or any other SOY.
ereign rights, power, or authority"
| 1t Is held by some Senators that Panama
retains sovereignty over the Canal Zone
| giving the United States only the right t
exercise the powers Of sovereignty. But al
Senator Reed clearly expressed it, II do no
know how you can have reputation of al
acts and powers of sovereignty and at the
same time retain sovereignty"
Having sovereign power over the Cana
Zone. II is the right of the United States
TO deal with the canal as II pleases, in
Guiding the granting of passage to Ameri-
can coastwise shipping free Of tolls. And
IL Great Britain should demand an arbitra-
ton OF the question Of tolls, II would be
the duty Of the United States to refuse to
submit the matter TO arbitration. because
the Canal Zone is part OF our coast line
wholly within the sovereignty Of the United
States.
The only remnant OF the Clayton Bulwer
treaty that survives is the provision fOI
naturalization of the canal and the equal
treatment Of all nations Obeying the rules
adopted by the United States. Great Brit
ain did not join In making these rules
They were adopted solely by the United
States, for the purpose Of treating all ma
tons alike. When this duty Is performed
there Is no further treaty obligation, and
the United States is free to deal with It's
own ships as II pleases. II will not admit
foreign ships into our coast wise trade. and
so long as they are excluded II makes nc
difference TO them whether our ships are
taxed or passed free. There can be ne
| foreign competition in the cOastwise trade
II is an American monopoly as IL ought &C
be.
II Is gratifying to note that Senators are
beginning TO assume a frmer attitude or
| the canal question. The firmer they are
the better they will represent American
sentiment So long as the United States
treats all foreign nations alike 1t is actinI
in perfect good faith with all the world
and II there are any special benefits TO b.
given to American shipping, American
commerce, the American army. and thu
American navy through the operation o.
the Panama Canal, II Is the plain duty o.
Congress to see that these benefits arr
given. Therefore. the attempt by Grea
Britain to interfere with the domestic bust
ness Of the United States or with legsla
ton in its behalf should be entirely ignored