The Washington times., 1914-04-10

n temporary return to the older or
der of belief-that is, neutraiiZed
waterway-and for a time the Clay
ton-BuIwer treaty received less at
tention in the State Department.
Canal a Possibility.
The more grandiose notions of
world prowcss, that we took on as
a result of our successful conflict
with Spain, no doubt Influenced
very deeply public opinion on the
canal question. and again the pendu-
lum swung back to the ideas OF
Grant - that is, an Aperican-bullt.
owned, and controlled passage be-
tween the oceans.
we had become rich enough in
money and brains to undertake the
actual work-and. from shadowy
possibility. the canal at once became
a probability of the near future. There
was. however. that one stumbling
block in the way, the provisions oil
the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
With his characteristic force Presi-
dent Roosevelt set about acquiring
a zone in the isthmus through which
to build an American-owned and
American-controlled canal: also. II
possible, to secure England's consent
to overlook the prohibition placed
upon us newer 10 acquire any SuIh
territory for any such purpose, but
at all events to acquire the land.
This led directly to the making OF
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty Of De-
cember 20. 1900.
Price England Asked.
Whatever may have been the criti-
cisms OF this treaty in the United
States, the fact Is clear enough that
England reoeded from almost every
position of vantage she held under
the CIayton-Bulwer treaty, which old
er compact was Cancelled and super
seded by the new. Under its pro-
visions, the United States was left
free TO acquire all the territory on
the isthmus she might deem neces-
sary, build the canal herself. control
It, protect II by her own forces IL
need be, fix the tolls, exclude her
enemy's ships II she so wished. and
to all intents and purposes treat the
artificial channel as her own 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 read
lily granted. One of these was that
there should be no discrimination as
to tolls. The second was that the
canal must be maintained as neu-
tral and for general use Of the ships
OF all nations in war or peace.
Only the ships belonging to an en-
emy of the United States could be
excluded. Indeed, 1t would be hard
to conceive Of more liberal and
satisfactory compact.
The Quid Pro Quo.
The demand for neutrality was only
what We had ourselves insisted upon
for half a century, but this went
further still and recognized the vio-
lation of this neutrality II our own
national interests in war demanded
it. The equalization OF tolls is GER
tainly a condition the United States
would have insisted upon very firmly
had the parties been reversed as to
their respective interests.
1t seems clear enough. then. that.
before the making of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, such were our
contractual relations that the United
States could not construct any canal
across the isthmus without England's
cooperation. We could not acquire
property for the purpose. II the
canal should be built under all these
restrictions. then It could not be for
tilted nor guarded. 1t should have to
De neutralized in the broad sense Of
the term-that is, open to all ships
at all times, even by an enemy's ves-
sells in time of war.
The relinquishment OF all these re-
striCtions on the part of Great Brit
ain in the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
was the quid pro quo we sought and
accepted for what. in return is
comparatively very small price-the
equalization OF tolls.
What the Treaty Allowed.
1t must be borne in mind that the
one great consideration in canal
regulation was absolute neutrality
of the waterway. We had always
insisted upon it as did England.
and our great fear was in the posi-
bility of its failure.
By the Hay-Pauncefote treaty we
actually secured England's release
from our own violation of II and her
cooperation in preventing its viola
ton BY other powers. We have now
the right to fortify it and protect It
and forbid its use to our enemy'S
ships Instead of a worlds canal, IL
becomes a private waterway OF our
own and situated within our own
territory All OF these things be-
came possible by the Hay-Paunce-
fOte treaty. They were not possible
before.
The Hay-Pauncefote treaty was
modelled somewhat upon the conven-
tons regulating the Suez Canal.
where EQUALIZATION of tolls is Sc
cured. II il be contended that Eng