The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-03

THE FIRST TREATY, FEBRUAy 5, 1900 hs of 0 the ussa of srest Britain and Irsisnd Empress of osng % sbp to m the S Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and to that arise out sa0 of the a convenfon of April is 1850, commonly called the Clayton -Bulwer Tds rsn,y to the q tS of such canal the United States without irnpairing the
 in Acs wifi If o at have for that purpose appointed thsir pleni- It is agreed that the canal may be con srnen of ss n.a tn as. Sf tn: ss iy & at its own ai,s, cost, or by gift or loan l, Of pressl. convention the said sevsrn,ment sivs right of providing for tho regulation ana manasemsns ARTrcIE q tns p1nai II
 Tn. high contracting parties. Par a.sirins , to dipis" i'' of Anq n.atraiiastion. ..t.Sish.d h is Article VIII of the Clayton Hulwer traiization. the following rules. substantiai- ly as embodied in the convention between for the free navigation of the suez Maritime II. The canal shail D. fire. and open. in time of war as in tims % .f peace; tS the
  hsrs Un .hall Is5 Ss no ssains, any of the conditions or charges of traffic or
 2. The canal shall never be block.dsd, @ any sat act of 4 Hostility De e Within a canal except so far as may be strictly po.sibi. delay in accordance. with r.Eula- mission as may result from the necessities
 Prices shaii be in all respects subject to the same rules as vessels of war of the
 {. No belligerents shall embark or disembark troops, munitions of war or war like materials in the canal except in case with all possible dispatch.
 three marine miles of either end. Vessels one time, except in case of distress. and shall not depart within 24 hours from the bsiIieerent.
 G. The plant, establishments. buildings maintenance and operation of the canal shall be deemed to be part thereof TOT of war as in time of peace shall enjoy com plete immunity from attack or injury py impair impair their usefulness as part of the canal
 !. No Qualifications shall be erected com The United States. however, shall bs at liberty to maintain such military peiiee , ee protect it against lawlessness and disorder
 ARTICLE III
 diateiy, Upon the exchange. of the ratifi cations of this convention, bring II to the notice of the other powers ana invite them to adhere to it.
 This treaty bound us hand and foot and extended every restriction Of the Clayton -Bulwer treaty, being an a,droitly worded supplement to that l, convention. The treaty in this form was denounced by the democratic rarty in its convention of 19eD as a SUIT ender of American rights and interests
 Equal treatment in the Clayton Bull yver treaty was to be secured by stipulated joint protection and it ex- tended such protection. It did not sup ersede the Clayton Bulwer treaty Il adopted rules forbidding discrimina tfon under and condition. of peace or war and made the building of the canal a partnership affair in which the United States bore ali the burdens, yet was sarred from enjoying rights in- cident to construction and could not even fortify the canal for it's own pro-' lection in war. Besides, Great Britain wanted, jointly With us, to obtain a. contract participation by bringing the rules by joint notice to other powarss The intent was seen and later MT. Hay explained the attitude of the United States as follows: ss
 l.. That there should be in plain and explicit terms an express abrogation of the Clayton -Bulwer treaty.
 2. That the rules of neutrality adopted should not deprive the Unffed States of the right to defend itself and maintain public order
 8. That the powers should not in any manner be made parties to the treaty by being invited to adhere to it. Fs
 Referring to the rules fnr insurings neutrality MT. Hay says:
 "These rules are adopted in the treaty with Great Britain as . con stderation for getting rid of the Clay ton-Bulwer treaty and the only way in which other nations are bound by this is that they must comply with them if they would use the canal"
 sNowNlengthy discussion followed and we embody the various proposals of Great Britain to secure her aim in the second proposed treaty, dated Au- gust 3,1901.
 The strength of the American posi- tion is clearly shown through follow ing the elimination of parts unfair and harmful to our national welfare.