THE PANAMA CANAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6494, 20 December 1881, Page 6

THE PANAMA CANAL.

The Present of the United State* on Oct. Si «nt to the Senate an important letter writim h) the StcreUr/ of State to Minuter Lowr!!, m j.otidoo, on June Ji4, about the pifci.ru* Canal, identical note* also being lost to »ii the American Minuter* at European Court*. The following i» the letter :~ It ha* fallen under the oh*erration of the i'nsUieut, through current statements ot the European Pres* and other chan celt of communication, that the Great Power* of Kuu.j - iri&v pc»«ibljr he considering the subject of joint]/ guaranteeing the neutrality of toe Sntrroceauic Canal, now proi toted scrum thi< Bthrnu* of Panama, The Ur ited States rc a proper guarantee of neutrality a» r*srnii*S tj the coailructiou and the f mice.*'J o,era', ten of any highway aeroH the ItMitune of Panama, aod more «*.»-. a tlnrd of ft century &gi> this Oo»rrr»K.e«jt look t-very step deemed reqowjte in the premise#. The neceuity w«> fort teen, and abuudaotiy provided lor long in advance of any poutble call for the act out eierctta of power, /n Hi US ft memo* r»b!« Mid important treaty wae negotiated and signed between the Citihd fetal*# and hem Grenada, now the United of ColutnUa. B; ihehSfh Article of that Treaty, in exchange for certain eoMeuton# nuaflo U» the United flutes, «re guaranteed positively end i.uCy the perfect ueutrality of the l.lhmus, end of any tiiteroetanic cammunication that might be constructed upon or over it, for the maintenance oi free transit from .e* to r;-;.. We also guaranteed the ' right* of sovereignty and property of the Ur.iud States of Colombia over the territory of th« isthmus included within the border of lh« Mote of Panama, In the Judgment of 1;ii! p.eMl'.nt, tlii* guarantee, given by the United State*, dot* not n quire reinforcement in acc'.-ss.’Oi; or assent from any other Power. in more one instance Ini* Government hat hr eii tidied upon to vindicate the ne*-ir-ii'y thus guaranteed, and there is no c< ntingri.ey now foreseen or apprehended in which such vindication would not ho within Iho power ol this nation. There has never been tits slightest doubt on the part of the United dlutes es to the purpose or extent of the ooiiga'ion then assumed, by which they htcan <» surety alike for the free transit of the wuriu'a commerce over whatever laud way or waterway that might h« opr rod from sea to s.*9, tt'iei for thr j r.itccuiiu of the territorial right* of Colombia from aggression or inter- ! frien..- of any kind. Mur h*»» there trer •I Pctn 10-jin to question the full e strut ‘of the advantage* and heneilt*, naturally ! da- l»s tins ge-igraphical jwie.on ami j olilirwl I ndetmiss on the Western C-.ntincM which the United Btales obtained from the owner

of the l*l|jtß.i*.9 ierritoiry in ts.fth«ag« for that f«r re*ch>Bf anil gnamater. If the forethMlowed «euos of th* Untvptti Vomn »ho«3si oetass* * loofiMe it *®tsld b« trrU for you to bring to lb* ne«i«« c>f Lord OtoariHe tb* prtm*im» of the sv#*ty of #ipfc>aiij n* StSih oMjele, »n>i to Iblimate In furv sba» »*■.» mor«S)enl io the w»« of »appler m'.rjj ih# gn*»*n*fe con* Snire.i tS«r;-«r v * iM t.i» wm-dy !># fegur fed by thw tioirti a in «n «m#*{{#4'for tutmrwo into a ti»id whert the l«ml snd genrm! ir,’m*f# «f * T r riii'trl n>w»t H* ‘N»i r;-irr> IIvK.-e? ■ »* i~* way c‘ ".i’f UTe lb-o>e of t i * t'*i !r “. ■> S|ei of t-5,4 •bmr, whi-'i b*re <i»rir«Til, tx,4 «U 1 conUatst lo limit, rtioh eratrs-a! frma tie gj.arnr* 1 .- * «.f !h-* Gwverr.ment. Ibf I'r.-sHii,*. nee-t * :t >.u- to in* fronkrett to l*e *ttii mure m - i? in »h* and to oicraivo the Tif»» the tfnito>l Cbrmeitst »nh *ssw» b*t of to tb* end 0»t tn «*■■■'rt mint? fhell tab•itl m to tie irs-vr.j ./! oi.r ru ,Uff» or lh* vf a r vn ». h ,• nst ifc* wt»h or pnrpotc of the Cmt«4 t>t*to» to iotor* fere wita j waj;.- ercui *, r.'rrjartto ifi whisit the i.r »*4*Jfc',* of any foreign Potter tnagr i« fit to csnmrk nsder lawful prmiem. The fact of I hr stock fnednui of In I'asamo U&naS or the P*r.atro Ka>l«r«y bring owned m Kltropc, cither whole or principally, it so w» a lutfjiet of complaint on the part t>f t- r Ct-i'c i istates than it the ctreametone* lliat the its ck of irmsy great line* of railway s» laigciT t ‘■'■l abroad, such ownmhip, with iMaitcndan: nghle, i# io the United Stale* amply arc tired by the l»»» of the usd on tbs Icthmii* d .ufcly arrured by the focal law# of Oifomfci*, with the cuperadded gnui.ntee of the United bt*t, *. Bor in time of peace do the United btato wek to hare any ncluvira prinlrgr* accorded to American •hip* in respect to precedence or to‘l» through tb# Ictcrniccacic Canal, any more than it ha* rcKg 't like pnrikgc* for American good* in trace it orer the Panama i ail way, which it imdcr the cxelojite control of ®a American corporation. “ The extent of the pritrilegce of Americas cituec* ar.d ship* i» mwsurabie, under the treily ef IStC, by thore of Colombian citixeti* and thipt. It would b« our earmat Ceeire and expectation to tte the world'* peaceful commerce enjoy the tamo ju*i, liberal, and rational treatment. It :s as regard* the po it.cal control of «uch » canal, st di*ttogui*hed from iu merely adminittra* tire or commercial rcgulo'st-o, that the President fad* called upon to »pc»k with directnets and eiopha*:*. Daring any war in which the United Stale* or Colombia might be a party, the piaiag« of the armed tc*»®l* of a ho.-tiis nation through the canal at Panama would be no mors admissible than would the passage of the armed forces of a faosld* nation ore? the railway line* joining the Atlantic a: the Pacific shores of the United estate* or Colombia; and the United State* will built upon their right to take nil needful precautions against the possibility of the Isthmus transit being in any erect used offensively again#! their intemto upon land or upon tea. . The two Republic*, between which a gnarmtoe of neutrality and pc**c«atoo exist*, hare an ans'* t ou» cacditton, with respect to their ttrnwriai extension. Both hare a long liar of c vast oa cither ocean to protect, as well as imp rove. The possession* of the United State* upon the Pacific Coast are imperial in extent and ex* tnord inary in growth. Even at their pretent rite of development they would supply th*larger part of the traffic which would teek the advantage of the Canal. The State* of California, Oregon, and the territory of Washington, larger in area than England and France, produce for export more than a ton of wheat for each inhabitant, and the entire freight demanding wafer transportation eastward, already enormous, is augmenting each year with accelerating ratio. While the population and products of the Pacific slope ora thus increasing ut on a vast scale, the mi way system coatecticg the Golf of Mexico with the interior and with the great lakes ia being rapidly < xtended, thus affording additional facilities for enlarging a commerce that must seek the coist line and the Pacific, of which the projected canal at Panama will form a part, and b» as truly a channel of communication between the eastern and far western State* as our transcontinental railway. It is tho perception of this domestic function of a longsought waterway between the two seas that border the Republic which has caused the project to be regarded us cf vital importance by this Government. The history of tho enterprise is marked from the outset by the numerous expeditions which from time to time have been sent out by the United State* at large expense to explore tho various route*, and thus facilitate the work when the time should be rip# and when the vast capital should b» forthcoming for the undertaking. If the proposed canal were a channel of communication near to the countries of the Old World, and employed wholly, or almost wholly, by their commerce, j it might properly bo urged that the influence of the European Power* should bo largo end justly commensurate with their interest*. With the cxercito of such influence tho United dtalet could find no fault, especially if assured of an equal participation in the peaceable enjoyment of the commercial facilities so afforded. The case, however, is hero reversed, and an agreement between the European Htales to jointly guarantee tho neutrality, and to effect tho control of the political character of a high way of commerce remote from them and near to us, at forming substantially part of our coast line, and promising to become the chief mean* cf trans- ? station between the Atlantic and the aciflc State*, would be an extraordinary procedure, and would necessarily bo viewed by tbit Government with the gravest concern. “ The policy of the United State* is one of peace and friendly intercourse with every Government ami people. Thi* dispoiition i* frarkly avowed, and is, moreover, abundantly shown in the feet that our armament* by land and *c-a are kept within such limit# a* aff jfd no ground lor distrust or suspicion of menace to other nation*. The agreement tnicrad into by thi* Government in 1846 was manifestly in the interest of peace, and tho necessity irnpoted by circumstances upon the United Stales to watch over the highway between it* two was so imperative that the resultant guarantee was the simplest jmdcc to the chief iutercsU concerned. Any attempt to supersede that guarantee by an agreement between tho European X’ower*, which maintain v*«t armit* and patrol tho sea with immense licet*, and whoso interot in th« canal aud it* operation* can never be to vital and supremo a* ours, wool t partake of the nature of an a!liauce ageinot the United Hiatus, and would la» regarded by this Government ns an indication of »r» unfriendly feeling. It would be but m inadequate response to the goodwill w« b«ar them, and to our cheerful and con»tant recognition of their o*n right* of domestic policy a* well a* those re<ul<ing from proxiwitv or *. ringing from neighbourly in-U-reet. The great European Power* hare rapealrdly units;a in agreement* such >-• the guarantee* of neutrality touching the p'jttucnl condition of Htotal like Luxembourg, Belgjum, ffwiSKerland, and |**rl* of the Orient, where localities M>ro adjacent or where the interest* involved concerned them nearly. Deeply recognising the e fact*, the United State* Its* never offered to take part in such agrlenient* or to m*k« “ ri y "gw ment supplementary to them. While ton* observing the *trieto«l> neutrality with rr*|w I. to complications abroad, it is a long,Htled eviction of this Government that any extension to our shore* of Die p by which the Great Power* have controlled and detomiined event* in Europe would be attended with danger* to th# peace atifj wAlfnrt* of thU Tiation. WhiJ* 4 tho vernment of the United State* has no intcu. tian of initialing any discussion upon the tubjecl, if is p«i|»r that you should b» prepared, j in «a«e of any action, t onf-ircuce, or exchange of opinions thereon b-tstto Urn Great I'tra ci* of Kurnpo. to Ujmmuoic.de to the Governi iuriil. to i»hii;ii you. are accredited the view* of the President as frankly and fullv m ' hrreir; #rt forth j « d at siutoble •iwrs in 1 tm< pir* o«l. friendly iijlmo..r*t» with your | J-olUgiw* of Um Dipiootslic Hedy at. Loudon ■ yim may find it p uper io gtvw a (btc.v.-l exI pression to tim p h t on 1 motives ot ’ your Government* V‘iu w:'l Jbe rareful,

is mj eeermation* y m ' may have, nut to rspnwat lb* ptwiifna of tb« U»il«d Skate* as th* 4*vriop»*ei of aay ntw polity, cr the Icssguratioa of any advatvrad afgmtirw *topw to W takes by thi* OorrmiMltt. It b Bflthlfif tfe*s th» praeouAewd adherer,c# of lb* Urjtcd Btat#« to the prineip!** lonaw tinea uouanato-I by tb* isifihrtt authority of tb* Oovernrw.t, and now, ia the jadgmeof of lb* Fretideat, firstly interwoven »* m jutegral and important pari of the national paltry. In hi* tifidrf*» en lalinf tb# oath of the I’mider.t distinctly pro-calmed the poritloa wblsh (b« Government of the United State* would bold on tb j* qu* ittoe.. If the European Cabinet* bar* failed to obterte or g»v* da* heed to the declaration,! them made, it may b* well for you on *o.r,e proper orranvn to call tb* attontion of tho Minister of Foreifn Affairs to the language u «d fey the Fmtdeat 0- BtJU.VK.”