Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-05-31

Senator McCumber has written the
editor of the Tribune a mighty inter-
esting letter summing up the chief
arguments against free canal tolls.
This is a vital issue in the Second
Congressional district and in view of
the fact that our present congress
man has not explained adequately to
the voters why he voted to substitute
the shipping trust, we print the letter
in full.
1t follows:
am in receipt of your letter of re.
cent date concerning the Panama can
al treaty and the exemption of u
coast wise vessels from the payment
of tolls. The address which l made on
this subject on April 9Th was neces
sarily quite lengthy. 1t was the open.
ing address on the subject at this
session and the occasion required a
rather full discussion. l will attempt
to make a concise statement on this
subject and a most brief reply to the
arguments favoring free tolls, speak
ing first of our %cOntractual obligation.
g.. Many Declarations.
Prior to 1850 this government had
made many declarations concerning a
proposed isthmian canal. These de.
%clarations had been made in Senate
and House resolutions, by diplomatic
correspondence and by executive mes
sages. In every one of them we had
insisted that whatever canal or rail-
way should connect the two lei
equality of treatment in tolls and
charges should be accorded every ma
ton in the world, that we would
claim any special privilege and
would v consent that such spec
ial privilege should be granted to any
other nation.
This country and Great Britain
were similarly situated Both Can
ada and the United States reached
from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Oceans. Great Britain also had her
island possessions in the Caribbean
Sea, her British Guiana, as we'll as a
suzerainty over what was known as
the Mosquito Coast. Both the United
Feared An Advantage.
States and Great Britain feared that
the other might obtain an undue ad-
vantage if either controlled any such
railway or water communication.
Each n had made separate treaties
with New Grenada, Panama, and
other countries through which a canal
might be constructed. 1t will be noted
that in every n of these treaties the
same provision was embodied, wheth-
er entered into with the United States
or Great Britain, namely, that the pas
says way should be open on equal
terms to the vessels of all nations.
Matter Of a Treaty.
Finally, the United States request
ed Great Britain to consider the mat
ter of a treaty that would put at rest
these suspicious of the two countries
and that would declare to the world a
policy which should be observed by
all nations in traversing any line of
communication between the Atlantic
and the Pacific. Great Britain accept.
ed the invitation and the Clayton.
Bulwer treaty followed.
Establish General Principle.
The Clayton'Bulwer treaty declared
that the United States and Great
Britain entered into it, not only to
accomplish a particular object but to
establish a general principe"
The particular object that was
sought to be accomplished by the
treaty was that neither the United
States no Great Britain should ever
construct or own a controlling inter-
es in any canal or railway that might
be built to connect these e This
put at rest the fears OF each that the
other might obtain an undue advan.
tage.
The general principle" to be es-
tablished was set forth in these
words: land the anne canals or rail-
ways, being open to the citizens and
subjects Of the United States and
Great Britain on equal terms, shall
be open on like terms to the citizens
and subjects of every other state"
1t will be observed that his "gen.
eral principal specifically mentioned
both the United States and Great
Britain, and wherever referred to
thereafter, it is referred to as the
general principle" in Article VIII of
the Clayton Bulwer Treaty.
The close of the Spanish War in
1908 found us in possession of the
Philippine Islands. We had already
acquired the Hawaiian Islands. We
had been compelled in this war with
Spain to send our war ships around
Cape Horn. The necessity for a closer
and quicker communication betwee::
our eastern and our western coasts,
well as with our islands beyond
the sea, revived the latent desire for
this communication between the
which had been %slumbering TO:
years while the French Com :
pany were attempting to dig the canal
In his message of December, 1898.
Mckinley called attention
to the conditions and approached
Great Britain for a modification of
the Clayton.Rnlwer treaty which
would relieve the United States from
the inhibition against owning or con-
trolling a canal. Great Britain i'm
mediateIy acceded to. the request for
further consideration.
Secretary Hay. Ambassador ChCate
and Charge d'Affaires White conduct.
ed the negotiations on the pa~ Of the
United States. Lord Pauncefote and
Lord ~l-ansdowne. Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs for Great E'ritain.
conducted the correspondence and
discussions on the part of Great Brit