New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-27
BY r. G. Skerrett.

WE are so absorbed in the Panama
M Canal as an engineering wonder
w of the present that We quite for
get something of the history of this great
binding waterway between the Atlantic
and the Pacific. The public generally
knows comparatively little of 1.-THE story OF
its earliest conception, and a knowledge OF
that should enable the humble citizen who
has helped 10 foot the bill to judge more
accurately the correctness of Congress in
its action here of late toward this world
awakening undertaking.
Only a brief sketch of this history is
needful to show Just what the United
States owes to the rest of the world and
how much is rightly due to the American
in all walks of life and in all depart
ments OF business activities. Somehow,
most of us have been led to believe that
we were peculiarly indebted TO Great
Britain and of late we have been more
or less deluged with criticisms in the
English press. We are really at the
parting of the ways and the choice Of our
course will mean the loss or the recovery
Of millions of dollars annually which
properly should be our own. When we
have grasped the true situation, then we
shall appreciate what the opening Of the
Panama Canal will mean to other nations,
and how much more it will mean to some
of them If we neglect our opportunity and
repudiate our rights.
In his first annual message, dated De-
cember 4, 1919 President zachary Taylor
announced that a contract had 'Deen
concluded with the State of Nicaragua
by q company composed Of American cit
liens for the purpose of constructing d
ship canal through the territory OF that
state TO connect the Atlantic and Pa
ciic oceans" Agreeably to that fact he
directed the negotiation of treaty with
Nicaragua "pledging both governments TO
protect those who shall engage in and
perfect the work. All other nations are
invited by the state of Nicaragua to enter
into the same treaty stipulations with
her, and the benefit to be derived by
each from such an arrangement will be
the protection Of this great interocean
communication against any power which
might seek TO obstruct it or to monopolze
its advantages. Private enterprise
II properly protected, will complete the
work should II prove toDe ItaslOle' Inc
parties who have procured the charter
from Nicaragua for its construction desire
no assistance from this government be
youd its protection
EARLY BRITISH INTERFERENCE.
The negotiations of the American COM
pany antedated President Taylor's inau-
guration by several years, as had also
our governments diplomatic correspond
ence upon this subject with that state
In the face of these we'll known facts, the
British government, under the preteXt OF
assisting the Mosquito King, seized the
port Of San Juan, at the very mouth Of
the proposed interOcean canal. As Pres
ident Taylor expressed il: II consider the
interference of the British government on
this continent in Selling the port Of San
Juan as an unfortunate coincidence
and one calculated to lead to the infer
ence that she entertained designs by no
means in harmony with the interests Of
the United States l have no doubt .
that the British pretension TO the port OF
San Juan in right of the MOSQUITO King