PANAMA CANAL. 



717 



This protection might be withdrawn on six 

 months' notice, in case the persons operating 

 the canal made unfair discriminations against 

 either party to the agreement, or imposed op- 

 pressive exactions or unreasonable tolls. The 

 contracting parties further engaged " to invite 

 every state with which both or either have 

 friendly intercourse, to enter into stipulations 

 with them similar to those which they have 

 entered into with each other, to the end that 

 all other states may share in the honor and 

 advantage of having contributed to a work 

 of such general interest and importance as 

 the canal herein contemplated." They agreed, 

 also, to enter into the necessary stipulations 

 with Central American states for the promo- 

 tion and safety of the enterprise, and promised 

 to give their support and encouragement to 

 such persons or company as should first offer 

 to carry it out under certain specified condi- 

 tions. All this related to a canal by way of 

 Nicaragua; but in the eighth article of the 

 treaty the two governments entered into the 

 following stipulation: 



The Governments of the United States and Great 

 Britain, having not only desired, in entering into this 

 convention, to accomplish a particular object, but also 

 to establish a general principle, they hereby agree to 

 extend their protection by treaty stipulations to any 

 other practicable communicationsj whether by canal 

 or railway, across the isthmus which connects North 

 and South America, and especially to the interoceanio 

 communications, should the same prove to bo prac- 

 ticable, whether by canal or railway, which are now 

 proposed to be established by the way of Tehuantepec 

 or Panama. In grantiug, however, their joint pro- 

 tection to any such canals or railways as are by this 

 article specified, it is always understood by the Unit- 

 ed States and Great Britain that the parties construct- 

 ing or owning the same shall impose no other charges 

 reconditions of traffic thereupon than the aforesaid 

 governments shall approve ot as just and equitable; 

 and that the same canals or railways, being open to 

 the citizens and subjects of the United States and 

 Great Britain on equal terms, shall also bo open on 

 like terms to the citizens and subjects of every other 

 state which is willing to grant thereto such protection 

 as the United States and Great Britain engage to afford. 



The attitude of the United States Govern- 

 ment toward the Isthmus canal, in view of the 

 provisions of these treaties and the presumed 

 interests of the nation, has been the subject 

 of much serious consideration during the year. 

 President Hayes, in his last annual message, 

 had reiterated the opinion that " it is the right 

 and duty of the United States to assert and 

 maintain such supervision and authority over 

 any interooeanic canal across the isthmus 

 that connects North and South America as 

 will protect our national interest." In De- 

 cember, 1880, the following resolution was 

 offered in the House of Representatives by 

 Mr. Crapo, of Massachusetts, and referred to 

 the Committee on Foreign Affairs : 



Resolved, That the construction of an interoceanic 

 canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic ami I'.i- 

 ciflc Oceans by means of foreign capital under tho 

 auspices of or through a charter from any European 

 government, is hostile to the established policy of 

 the United States, is in violation of tho spirit and 



declaration of the Monroe doctrine, and can not be 

 sanctioned or assented to by this Government ; tliat 

 the United States will assert and maintain such con- 

 trol and supervision over any interoceanic canal as 

 may be necessary to protect its national interests and 

 means of defence, unity, and safety, and to advance 

 the prosperity and augment the commerce of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific States of the Union. 



The committee gave the subject prolonged 

 consideration, listening to arguments from 

 various quarters, and, toward the end of tho 

 session, made a report, in which they reviewed 

 the '* Monroe doctrine " and its purpose and 

 application, closing as follows: 



Your committee, therefore, as an affirmation of the 

 Monroe doctrine, believe that Americans must rule 

 Aim-rim, and that as a notice to all the world that the 

 United States, cherishing a friendly spirit to all na- 

 tions, will adhere to strict neutrality in all transatlan- 

 tic affairs, and expect a like non-interference in all 

 American affairs, whether on the northern or south- 

 ern or western hemispheres, we recommend the adop- 

 tion of the following resolutions : 



That the establishment of any form of protectorate 

 by any one of the powers of Europe over any of tho 

 independent states of this continent, or the introduc- 

 tion from any quarter of a scheme or policy which 

 would carry with it a right to any European power 

 to interfere with their concerns or to control in any 

 other manner their destiny, or the transfer to any 

 such power by conquest, cession, or acquisition, or 

 in any other way, of those states or any portion 

 thereof, is a measure to which the Government is 

 opposed, and which, should the attempt be made, it 

 will regard and treat as dangerous to our peace, pros- 

 perity, and safety. 



That the construction of any public works connect- 

 ing the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific by uny 

 European government or power, whether the wuno 

 be constructed at Panama or elsewhere, would be in 

 violation of the spirit and letter of the Monroe doc- 

 trine, and could not bo sanctioned by the Government 

 of the United States. 



That should a canal bo constructed across tin 

 mils of Panama, or elsewhere, this Government will 

 insist that it shall not be under the control of any 

 European government or power; that it shall be free 

 to tho commerce of the world, on equal term*, ami 

 that no discrimination shall ever be made against tho 

 United States in peace or war. 



That the President be requested to take tin- 

 necessary and proper for the abrogation of nn\ 

 ing treaties whoso terms are in conllict with lliis dec- 

 laration of principles. 



The session came to a close without tho 

 adoption of this report, or any discussion of 

 the resolution. 



Before the close of President Hayes's Ad- 

 ministration, negotiations were opened by tho 

 Secretary of State with Santo Domingo Vila, 

 a commissioner of the Colombian Go\ vrnnn nt, 

 for the adoption of a protocol to tin- treaty ot 

 1846, with a view to securing the exerci-e of 

 an exclusive guarantee of the neutrality of tho 

 canal by the United States. This instrument, 

 which was reputed to be the work ot' Mr. 

 Deichman, the American Minister to Colom- 

 bia, and supposed to have tho approval of tho 

 government to which In- \\a a -r.-tliii-il. pro- 

 vided that the United States might establish 

 forts, arsenals, and naval stations at the Isth- 

 mus of Panama, the sites to be agreed upon 

 by tho two governments. No fon-e was to be 

 kept there in time of peace, except for tho 



