THE INTEROCEANIC CANAL PROBLEM 197 



force them to combine against the United States, should the 

 latter persist in claiming the privilege to close the canal 

 against their ships. Each maritime power would immedi- 

 ately call upon Nicaragua or Colombia, as the case might be, 

 for the observance of those treaty rights secured to them by 

 " most favored nation " clauses. There need be no occasion 

 for self-deception in this matter. England's determined re- 

 sistance to American attempts to avoid the obligations of the 

 Clayton-Bulwer treaty demonstrates her probable attitude 

 toward the freedom of transit through the Nicaragua Canal. 



France is solicitous concerning the maintenance of this 

 principle, as plainly shown by her Central American treaties ; 

 and one cannot well suppose that Germany or Russia would 

 permit itself to be handicapped by any navigation disabilities 

 that other nations escape. The United States might, indeed, 

 defy the nations of the world, were the cause a just one. In 

 this case she would be defending, against overwhelming odds, 

 a principle which has been condemned by the civilized world, 

 including herself. Nations, like individuals, cannot afford 

 to ignore the good-will of their fellows. To persist in this 

 policy is simply to invite troubles which would far outbalance 

 any temporary trade benefits which might at first accrue 

 through a monopoly of the waterway. 



At all events, the policy would have to be abandoned 

 sooner or later; but while upholding this position of supposed 

 vantage in Central America, the United States would be sub- 

 jected to the greatest amount of needless expense, annoyance 

 and risk. Upon the United States alone would devolve the 

 duty of preserving order and protecting the canal. In times 

 of the profoundest peace the United States would be obliged 

 to police the route in a thoroughly effective manner ; in time 

 of threatened disturbance a large military force would be 

 required upon the scene. The United States would have to 

 be prepared always to despatch troops to the line of the canal. 

 Foreign vessels departing upon long journeys via Nicaragua 

 or Panama must be assured of finding the way clear. No 

 Central American revolution must be permitted to interfere, 

 no political disturbances, riots, or threats of lawlessness in 



