THE INTEROCEANIC CANAL PROBLEM 115 



ever be thoroughly effected, and without this concession 

 in favor of a common ideal, and possibly as an earnest of 

 good faith, the treaty would likely prove to be an instrument 

 of empty words. But it seems never for a moment to have 

 been the intention of Great Britain to relinquish her holdings 

 in Central America, notwithstanding the fact that she was 

 perfectly willing to join with the United States in a guaran- 

 tee of neutrality of the canal. With considerable shrewd- 

 ness the British commissioner argued that as the United 

 States could have no real interest in existing British pos- 

 session in Central America except in so far as they might 

 appear to affect the neutrality of any future -transit route, 

 all concern upon that score would be at once removed by the 

 signing of the proposed treaty, wherein, he alleged, England 

 was entirely willing to pledge herself never to make use of 

 her territorial possessions in Central America, or even to 

 avail herself of her influence over any Central American 

 state, to gain a dominion over the route inconsistent with 

 the strictest terms of neutrality. 



Political conditions in the United States very consid- 

 erably favored Sir Henry Bulwer in the accomplishment 

 of his purpose to conclude a treaty without yielding any of 

 his country's territorial claims. Alarming reports of the 

 events connected with recent British encroachments in 

 Central America were just beginning to spread about the 

 country, and, in consequence, feelings of hostility toward 

 England were daily growing more outspoken and intense. 

 The press demanded the reasons for delay in the building 

 of the canal, and further demanded the immediate pub- 

 lication of the Hise treaty. Congress also yielded to the 

 popular clamor and called for all the correspondence per- 

 taining to the Central American canal. Mr. Clayton felt 

 keenly the danger in making public these documents at 

 that particular moment, and furthermore he betrayed his 

 anxiety to Sir Henry Bulwer; the President, too, felt 

 much embarrassed in continuing to withhold the desired 

 correspondence from Congress. Bulwer was quick to take 

 advantage of his opponent's confusion, and he played upon 



