The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-05

Question. n again the pendulum.
swung back to the ideas Of Grant
that is, an American built, owned and
controlled passage between the
oceans.
We had become rich enough in
money and brains to undertake the
actual work-and, from a shadowy
possibility, the canal at once became
a probability Of the near future,
There was, however, that one stumb-
ling block in the way, the prov1-
sions of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
With his characteristic force Presi-
dent Roosevelt set about acquiring a
zone in the sthmus through which to
build an American-owned and Amer
~ican-cOntrolled canal: also, If pos
Slble, to SeCur England's consent TO
overlook the prohibition placed upon
us never to acquire any such terri
tory for any such purpose, but, at all
events, to acquire the land. This
led directly to the making of the
HaY-Pauncefote treaty OF Dec. 20,
1900.
Whatever may have been the criti-
cism of this treaty in the United
States, the fact is clear enough that
England rcCeded from almost every
position Of vantage she held under
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which
older compact was Cancelled and SUI
perseded by the new. Under its
provisions, the United States was left
free to acquire all the territory on the
isthmus she might deem necessary,
build the canal herself, control it,
protect 1t by her own forces if need
be, fix the tolls, exclude her enemy's
ships If she so wished, and to all in
tents purposes treat the artificial
channel as her w private property.
There were but two considerations
for the almost complete withdrawal
from her rights under the former
treaty that England demanded, and,
as these seemed fair, they were
readily granted. Ono Of these was
that there should he no discrimina-
ton as to tolls. The second was that
the canal must be maintained as
neutral and for general use of the
ships Of all nations in war or peace.
Only the ships belonging to an enemy
Of the United States could be ex-
cluded. Indeed, it would be hard to
conceive of a more liberal and salts
factory compact.
The demand for neutrality was
only what we had ourselves insisted
upon for half a century, but this
went further still and recognized the
violation Of this neutrality il our
own national interests in wal de-
manded it. The equalization Of tolls
is certainly a condition the United
Dt~NS' "OIAlN llHNS lllblSlGu ItUIl
very firmly had the parties been re-
versed as to their respective inter-
ests.
It seems clear enough, then that.
before the making Of the Hay
PaunCefote treaty, such we're our
contraCtual relations that the United
States oOuld not construct any canal
across the isthmus without England's
cooperation. We Could not ac-
quire property for the purpose. IF
the canal should be built under all
these restrictions, then it could not
he fortified nor guarded. 1t should
have to be neutralized in the broad
sense Of the term-that is, open to
all ships at all times, ever to an
enemy's vessels in time Of war.
The REIMBURSEMENT Of all these re-
striCtions on the part Of Great Brit
air in the INTERCHANGEABLE treaty
was the quid pro quo we sought
and accepted for what, in return. is
n comparatively very small price
the equalization Of tolls.
It must be horne in mind that tho
one great consideration in canal reg
ulation was absolute neutrality Of
the waterway. We had always in
sisted upon it, as did England, and
our great fear was in the possibility
Of it's failure.
BY the Hay-Pauncefote treaty we
actually secured EnSldndS releaSeo
from our own violation Of it and her
cooperation in preventing it's viola
ton by other powers. We have now
the right to fortify it and protect it
n forbid its use to our enemy's
ships. Instead Of a worlds canal, it
becomes a private waterway Of our
own and situated within our w ter
ritOry. All Of these things became
possible by the ay-Pauncefote.
before.
1t Is not a question of a strong or
weak nation or Of armies and navies,
but it seems more to be a question
Of national honor good faith.
How may we expect in the future
to conclude treaties, especially all
important treaties for peace and
arbitration with the nations Of the
world. If we show so little con-
sideration Of an existing treaty?