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Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11662, 22 January 1902, Page 2

Britain has acted wisely in regard to the oew Hay-Pauncefote Canal Treaty which was signed by Mr Hay and Lord Pauncefote at Washington. The principal point of difference between the new treaty and the one that failed to pass the Senate is the withdrawal of Great Britain from the joint guarantee of the neutrality of the canal, leaving the United States as sole guarantor. The section of the old provision respecting the right to fortify the canal leaves that right by inference with the United States. All commerce, of whatever nationality, will fare alike, and there will be no discrimination in the rates in favour of United States shipping. By the new convention the United States is at liberty to construct a canal, and nothing more remains to be done, as far as this treaty is concerned, before the Senate acts upon it. if it is ratifie.d, the State Department will proceed immediately to negotiate treaties with Costa Rica and Nicaragua permitting the construction of the canal and prescribing the terms upon which the consent of Nicaragua and Costa Rica is given. No particular ceremony took place at the signature cf the treaty. Lord Pauncefote had been indisposed for several days, and was not expected to sign before the end of the week, but to the surprise of the officials his excellency appeared at the department, and the signature of the treaty was soon completed. .