INTEROCEANIC CANAL PROBLEM 



but Great Britain was the central figure in the attempt then 

 being made, and later carried out by treaty of Constantino- 

 ple, to secure the perfect neutrality of the Suez Canal. By 

 this agreement Great Britain estopped herself from acquiring 

 the control of that canal which her great naval strength 

 might have given her. Her position along the route, through 

 the Mediterranean and Red seas, had nothing more to do with 

 the legal status of the Suez Canal than our own naval sta- 

 tions along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts might have with 

 the Isthmian Canal. 



Mr. Blaine's assertion that " only by the United States ex- 

 ercising supervision, can the Isthmian Canal be definitely, and 

 at all times, secured against the interference and obstruction 

 incident to war," is a statement much more susceptible of 

 refutation than of proof. It is manifestly easier for two to 

 stand guard than for one, and still more easy for three to 

 protect than for two ; when all are willing and are pledged 

 to stand guard, there becomes no further need for the sentry. 

 With the United States alone doing guard duty upon the 

 banks of the canal, what is there to prevent any two war- 

 ring powers from blockading the route? What is there, 

 even to preve* their closing the way against American 

 ships? The x of this contention by Mr. Blaine can be 

 better appreciate^ in the fervency of patriotic sentiment, 

 but logically it fails. As an argument for abrogation of that 

 part of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty calling for international 

 guarantee, it was of little force, for there is every reason toi 

 suppose that no single nation can perpetually maintain the 

 freedom of an interoceanic ship canal. 



Mr. Blaine's fear that France might gain entire control of 

 the Panama Canal was without reasonable foundation. De 

 Lesseps made no claim for his country's exclusive interests 

 in the result of his labors. He himself demanded interna- 

 tional agreement for the protection of the route ; and had he 

 not done so, or had France assumed a right to exclude all 

 other nations from a share in its political management, it is 

 certain that Great Britain would have protested as vigorously 

 as the United States. Indeed, there is no reason to suppose, 



