And State Papers 751 



terest of mankind, the United States holds that 

 position with regard to the interoceanic canal. 

 Since our purpose to build the canal was definitely 

 announced, there have come from all quarters as- 

 surances of approval and encouragement, in which 

 even Colombia herself at one time participated ; and 

 to general assurances were added specific acts and 

 declarations. In order that no obstacle might stand 

 in our way, Great Britain renounced important 

 rights under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and agreed 

 to its abrogation, receiving in return nothing but 

 our honorable pledge to build the canal and protect 

 it as an open highway. It was in view of this 

 pledge, and of the proposed enactment by the Con- 

 gress of the United States of legislation to give 

 it immediate effect, that the second Pan-American 

 Conference, at the City of Mexico, on January 2*2, 

 1902, adopted the following resolution: 



The Republics assembled at the International 

 Conference of Mexico applaud the purpose of the 

 United States Government to construct an inter- 

 oceanic canal, and acknowledge that this work will 

 not only be worthy of the greatness of the American 

 people, but also in the highest sense a work of civil- 

 ization, and to the greatest degree beneficial to the 

 development of commerce between the American 

 States and the other countries of the world. 



Among those who signed this resolution on behalf 

 of their respective governments was General Reyes, 



