THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 7

THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

THE HAY-PA UNO EFOTE TREATY ADOPTED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

WASHINGTON, December 21.

The Senate, by 55 to 18, adopted the Hay-Paunoefote Nicaraguan Canal treaty, with an amendment declaring that the Clayton-Bulwyer treaty is superseded. The Senate eliminated * the article which ordered a notification to the Powers.

■ On Wednesday last we published a cablegram stating that the New York Times urged President M'Kinley to withdraw the HayPauncefote treaty, lest America should bo involved in a national disgrace. As the treaty has been adopted by the Senate, and the Clay-ton-Buhver treaty abrogated, the position is a rather serious one. By the Clayton-Buhver treaty both Britain and the United States pledged themselves not " to occupy, or fortify, or colonise, or assume or exercise any dominion " over Nicaragua and thp other States, and Britain was assured a partnership in any canal that might be constructed across the isthmus. The Hay-Pauncefote treaty meant a great concession on the part o( Great Britain without any compensating advantage. The Clayton-Buhver treaty was recognised as still valid, but Great Britain resigned all claim to a share in the Nicaragua Canal, which was to be constructed by the United States, which was to police the canal and guarantee its absolute neutrality in time .of war. But in March last the Davis amendment was added, by which America is to be allowed to fortify the canal and close it to commerce whenever she chooses. The cablegrams have not made it qlear whether the Davis clause has been again revived, but as the Clayton-Buhver treaty has been repudiated and the Davis clause was also part of the Republican programme, it is a fair presumption that the Davis clause is in the treaty just adopted by the Senate.