El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-17
Canal Planned so Years Ago
England Surrendered Rights Held
Under CIaytOn-BulWer
Treaty.
= By Frederic J. Haskin =
D. d. IA

half a century. The United States had
only recently finished its continental
expansion, and the year 1850 found the
North Amedican continent north Of the
Rio Grande in the possession of the
United States and England. Each of
the countries needed a canal to connect
It's east and west coasts
England Controlled East Coast.
England had long had a west coast
in Canada, but the United States had
only so recently come into possession
of such a coast that it was inspired
to begin at once to look forward to
their connection by an isthmian water
way. But when it turned its attention
in that direction it found that Great
Britain was holding the position of ad-
vantage in the isthmian region. It
held the Bahamas and Bermuda, ia
maica and Barbados, Trinidad, the
Windward and the LeeWard islands,
British Guiana and British Honduras,
coast now the east coast Of Nicaragua
That prOtectOrate covered the eastern
terminus Of what was thought the feas-
ible route for a ship canal
Treaty Sought By u. 5
Under these circumstances a treaty
clearly was Necessary between the two
countries, and such a treaty was sought
by the United States. England agreed
to enter into such a treaty, after two
treaties had been negotiated between
the United States and Nicaragua. Civ
ing to the United states Nicaragua's
assent to a program that would afford
large powers to this country in the con-
structiOn Of the canal These treaties
with Nicaragua were negotiated but
were never presented to the American
senate for ratification They were PROB
ably negotiated to make Great Britain
feel willing to make a treaty.
ClaytOn-BuIwer Treaty.
BY the resulting treaty with England.
known as the Clayton-BulWer treaty,
the two countries agreed that neither
government should ever obtain or
maintain for itself any exclusive con-
troll over the ship canal" that neither
country should ever erect or maintain
any fertilization commanding in the
vicinity Of the canal; that neither ma
ton should ever cOlOn1ze or assume 10
Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any
other part OF Central America that
neither country should take advantage
OF any intimacy, alliance, connection,
or influence with any country IN Cen
traI America in order to secure for It
any rights or advantages IN regard to
commerce and navigation not possessed
by the citizens or subjects Of the other
Use Of Canal in War.
The second article OF the treaty pro-
vided that in case Of war between the
United States and Great Britain, yes
sells Of both nations should be exempt
from blockade. detention, or capture
while in the canal or within certain
fixed distances from it. The third ar
ticle set forth that in order to secure
the building OF the canal, any party
or parties undertaking the task under
the sanction Of the governments
through which II passed would be pro
tected in their rights by the United
States and England.
By the fourth article the two cOun-
tries undertook to use their influences
with the countries through which the
canal should pass in the direction OF
inducing them to cooperate IN the
work OF construction, and also to use
their good offices TO secure free
port at each end
The fifth article bound both govern
ments to protect the waterway from
interruption, seizure. or unjust cOnfis-
cation after its completion. to guaran-
tee its neutrality, so that II might
forever be free and open, and the capt.
tai invested secure 1t further pro-
governments might withdraw their
support upon six months notice, II
persuaded that unfair determinations
were made or unjust tolls levied.
Invited Cooperation
Invitations to every other country to
enter into like stipulatiOns were ex-
tended in the sixth article to the end
that they might share in the honor and
advantage OF having contributed TO so
important a work Agreement was
also made in that article that the two
countries should enter into treaties with
the countries Of Central America look
Ing TO the eADeQlUOn OF the WoLA u
building the canal Tor the beneIlt OF
mankind. on equal terms TO all
In the seventh article OF the treaty
the two countries agreed TO give IhslE
support to such competent persons OF
'cOmpanies backed by sufficient capital,
as first might undertake the work OF
constructing the canal Such persons
or companies were TO De gwen a -
to show their resources and 70 peslh
work and If they were not READY 70 80
arsT q
conner was to be considered
Open on Equal Terms
All Of these stipulatiOns led 9p %
the final one, contained in the elsn-A
article which recites that the two COM
panies have entered into the treaty not
only for the particular object OF pro
viding for the construction OF lile Se.Lle--'
but as well for the establishment OF =
General DrincipIe. and that they agree
to extend their Joint and several pro-
lection to any other pract1caole COM
municatiOns. whether Dy c4tnd4 " -
way across the Isthmus OF FalaIlls- -
the isthmus of Tehauntepec- 1t turJn9eE
recited that in granting TINS proSeCl-ol-
if was agreed that no OIner ChaLs
or conditions Of trattlc snOuIu y -
than those approved Dy I1s W. 49,, -
tries and that they. should pc open -
the citizens and subjects or the wv 10
lions on equal terms, and uAeS -, -
are offizens and subjects OF al suCL
nations as might be Wiling 20 Jo55L !. =
-
in the protection of such lneerOcea-l1O
communications ..
Contract Between Two Na IlO.-1- -,
II v-iTI be noticed, in studying Lne
treatv history of the tsthmlan prosJ ,.S1tJ,
tba+ while both the sixth ana the e -s7Lit-.
srficles of the Clayton-Bulwe = 800 49,
contained invitations 10 otlSL iT-,ife5
To- iOin in it's terms with me ~
Sfafes and Great Britain. the ou0
direct statement and the oIn lssll,f,,s5
Diain inference. the CONTRACT 80 -
Solely between those two couh1 NE NJ is
- otber nation joined in II MS ~
s5venced by some to prove ,-5 b-f
Contention that not only ~ si1- -je-bt to
80 countries as well have Is ~
49, lt-st TODAY against the cthal '0iA
Nv is not well founded -f+, WOW
Id S-, ~ who take the opp0sLte 49,,
IL s+trfbute the rights t1ey cam m
20 other nations to these - ,1-57c6
~ &c TO clauses in the tredty 49, 49,.
49, its place-the Hay-t d uii0
treaty ,-.,,+-,I canal Intended
&, oSTitted by every BODY I9a5 the
-, - = E977Ivver treaty lhlehuSU
LAY t tOl-t neutral canal, neutral with
- 10 defence, neutral Win res
IelS.re 10 tolls. neutral toWLo suCh
go nations as might JON WIN lne
oLu1i ,I-,t~s citing nations IN maintain
tNo 80 5,erIrraIity. In 1896 and prior
ing &c. +bsra were those who wanted