The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-05-28
TRUE INwARDNESs OF CANAL
TREATIES SIMPLY EXPLAIN.
ED.
tFrom Rutland Herald, May q 1914
Article No. /.

matter has become ons of fostaai de
bate in the Senate Il nigh. srryc som,
good purpose TO recapitulars the point!
made for and against repeal As wei
as some early cana, history.
To those who nave given srant at
tention TO this mos. interesting ques'
tion aua who wan. 20 know what II il
all abb 4, II 1t be- said that full
exp'ai ,'p devoid IL technical te. ms
and phrases used in diplomacy is moi
as simple as il might seem at first
blush.
Perhaps il might clear the decks for
a final elucidation TO mark the prog
ress Of the agitation for trans-isth-
mian canal In the United States. This
might be said TO have begun at the
end OF the Monroe administration at
which time three routes were consid-
cred. Tehuantepec, Nicaragua and
Panama. Followed then the forma-
tion Of Dewitt Clinton's $4,000, 900
company and its subsequent abandon
ments. Passing then to Jackson's ad-
ministration we find that Charles Bid
die was appointed by the President to
go to Nicaragua and report on the
feasibility Of canal route from Lake
Nicaragua TO the Pacific. Biddle, how
ever, threw up his commission and
went over to a Panama road and
steamboat company.
The question was not allowed to
rest and various efforts at home and
abroad were made TO construct q
trans-Nicaraguan waterway; these
availed nothing and it was not until
the unauthorized treaty with New
Granada (Colombia) was concluded
by our charge that the canal scheme
began to take definite shape.
The Principle Of Neutrality.
This treaty (1846) was the one
granting the right Of way by New
Granada to this government for any
means Of transit, by road, railroad or
canal in return for which our country
was to guarantee the neutrality of the
isthmus and the sovereignty of New
Granada over it. President Polk
though fearing possibilities of entang
ling alliances, sent the treaty to the
Senate where it was held up until its
final ratification after the disintegra-
tion Of the Central American confed-
eracy and after the Yucatan war.
After much purposeless negotiation
by our commissioners for canal routes
and other concessions in Central
America we are brought down to the
negotiation Of the celebrated Clay
ton Bulwer treaty which took its
name from our then Secretary Of State
John M. Clayton and Sir Henry Lyt-
ton Bulwer, the British ambassador
at Washington. After much backing
and filling this treaty was concluded
July 4, 1850, and provided among
other things that neither Power
should ever obtain exclusive control
over the canal; nor erect fortifcations
commanding it.
/. nor should either take advant-
age Of any influence it might possess,
with any state through which the
canal might pass, to acquire for its
citizens or subjects any advantages to
commerce or navigation through the
canal which were not offered on the
same terms to the citizens or the sub
jects Of the other.
The Clayton -Bulwer Treaty.
Article five guaranteed the neutral
lty Of the canal. But either Power
might withdraw its protection if its
commerce through the canal were dis
against in favor of that of
the other. Another article provided
that the Powers Of Europe and States
of Central America were to be invited
INTO like stipulati0ns with the two con-
.racting parties that the canal might
De built and maintained "for the bene-
ii of mankind, on equal terms to ALL"
rhe ambiguity that has arisen in read
ng the Clayton Bulwer treaty and the
second Hay-Pauncefote treaty, each
n the light of the other, arises from
IN attempted construction Of Article
Of the former compact and it is for
his reason that SO much of the canal
.reaty history has been given herein.
The Clayton Bulwer treaty remain
ID in force down to 1900 when it be-
,ame desirable for this government to
construct q trans-isthmian canal un-
Ter its own control. At the outset we
we're confronted by our obligations
lnder the Clayton-Bulwer treaty ex-
,ressly providing against exclusive
control by either Power In order to
'bviate these difficulties, Secretary Of
State John Hay was empowered to
negotiate new compact with Great
Britain. In the process Of negotia-
ion it became apparent to him that
treat Britain was not only complais-
mt but desirous that canal be con-
tructed at the expense of this govern
nent, provided that the principle Of
naturalization contemplated by the
,act Of 1850 should be provided for in
my new treaty.
First Hay-Pauncefote Treaty {
In pursuance Of authority, the first
iay-Pauncefote treaty between the
United States and Great Britain was
igned February 5, 1900. This treaty
ook its name from our then Secretary
I State and Lord Pauncefote, Eng
and's ambassador to the United
tates. The general principle embod-
ID in Article 8, referred TO above, was
et forth in this first Hay-Pauncefote
reaty by reference to a rule Of the
ations, on terms Of entire equality. {
The Suex Convention. i
"The canal shall be free and open,
o time Of war as In time Of peace, TO
he vessels Of commerce and war Of /,
II nations on terms Of entire equali-
Y; SO that there shall be no discrim-
nation against any nation or its citi-
ems or subjects in respect Of the con- I
itions and charges Of traffic, or other