340 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



as a menace over the control of any canal which our 

 people may ever build. 



The treaty provides that the canal shall "never be in 

 the control exclusively either of the United States or 

 Great Britain ; and that neither of said governments will 

 ever direct or maintain any fortification commanding the 

 same, or in the vicinity thereof, or occupy or fortify or 

 colonize or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa 

 Rica, the Mosquito Coast or any part of Central Amer- 

 ica. " By this provision our government, after her peo- 

 ple shall have built the canal, is precluded from fortifying 

 it; her ability to defend it being limited to her capacity 

 to defend it by armed vessels upon the water. This 

 would enable England with her superior naval force to 

 control the canal after we shall have built it. 



If any European nation desires to attack England, in 

 India, she must go round the Cape of Good Hope to reach 

 her, whilst England protects herself with the short route 

 through the Suez Canal. In like manner any country 

 that seeks to attack our western coast would be compelled 

 to go around Cape Horn, whilst we would retain the canal 

 through Nicaragua. The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty lost 

 sight of the principles of the Monroe Doctrine which we 

 are discussing today, and that mistake has thus far pre- 

 vented the construction of the canal itself. 



The doctrine of Monroe is not limited in North Amer- 

 ica. Its beneficial influences extend from Bering Strait 

 to Cape Horn. It recognizes and enforces the principle 

 that this hemisphere is able to take care of its own affairs. 



Colonies which have become independent from the 

 mother country are henceforth to be free. Colonies which 

 still maintain their allegiance will in no wise be disturbed. 

 But the old days when vast areas of unpeopled lands 

 could be divided up as a result of European treaties is 

 past never to return. 



