The Lyttelton Times THURSDAY, DEC. 22, 1881.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6496, 22 December 1881, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times THURSDAY, DEC. 22, 1881.

The proposed canal through the Panama Isthmus has lately been the subject of several able meoaageo published in our columns. These have referred to a certain despatch sent by Mr James Blaine, the Secretary of the United States, to Mr Lowell, American Minister in London. As telegraphic messages sure, of necessity, brief, and as not much vm known here with regard to the exact attitude previously assumed by

.merica towards the Panama under-

taking, except a vague nation that ahe exercise some sort of control over it when completed, a feeling of very natural uneasiness sprang op in the minds of those who recognise the vital interest in the Panama Canal possessed by the Colonies of the Australian group. The scheme has been so long talked about, that it is not easy to realise that the Canal is redly in coarse of construction at last, and that, humanly speaking, it ought to be finished in a few years. The effect on oar ocean trade will then be speedy and enormous. Nearly the whole of it will probably be diverted to the Isthmus, while the greater part of the passenger traffic, despite fears on the score of climate, will be sure to follow suit The lives and property of New Zealanders, therefore, will be intimately concerned in the proposed Canal, and anxiety on the score of American intentions thereupon is only reasonable and to be expected. The publication, however, of the text of Mr Blaine’s despatch, will go far to remove any nervousness of ibis land. Based on hypothesis, it amounts, at the most, to a protest The United States, it seems, intend no new line of action with regard to the Canal: they advance no pretensions which they have not held for at least a generation: and, practically speaking, they propose to aesert no claims which ought to be, in the ordinary coarse of affairs, in any way detrimental to foreign interests. They do not mean to seize upon the Canal, or to establish any system of maritime police over it to interfere with the passage of the commerce of other nations, or to demand any advantages for their own. What Mr Blaine says, amounts simply to this; " A rumour has reached us that the European Powers are talking of a general International guarantee of the Canal’s neutrality. Thirty years ago the United

States and the Columbian Union—the

two partita moat interallied—joined in a mutual guarantee. This is quite sufficient; and we should regard any attempt to supplement it aa an unfriendly act. Acquaint the English Government with this as politely as you can.”

This assumption of a peculiar and dominating interest in Panama by America may possibly be galling if true, and its justice even may be open to question- The Englishmen and Australasians, whoso most convenient

highway of intercourse the Canal is in the future to be, may very well take

exception to the utter oblmoasnesa of themselves displayed in M? Blaine's circular. The Pacific slope may be of great value to the Eastern States of the Union, and the short cut through the Isthmus msy well be prized by both of them. But California and Oregon bare, at any rate, a shorter, if more expensive, land , route through the national territory by which to reach the Atlantic border. Australia and New Zealand have no land route to the Mother Country. The advantage of the Panama passage will be at least as inestimable to them, and. as they are already one of Great Britain's best customers, her concern in the Canal cannot be ignored- But, if we put this aside, and enquire the aim and end of Mr Blaine’s circular—ask, in fact, what ho wants—it is by no means so certain that his demands arc unreasonable. Th® Monro® doctrine, that the great Republic of the North should endure no European interference in the affairs of either Continent of the Hew World, is coarse indefensible as a general principle. England might Just m well

order tht French to oeaeo nggreeeton in further India, or declare the Pacifio b British lake. Bui wo are not ear® that this pariioaliir assertion, on the pari of the tin Sled. Stake, is so ahaurd as certain critics would have it believed. Suppose a case stick «»that of Great Britain having long ft (f° united with Greece to guarantee the neutrality of a canal through the lathrao* of Corinth, should we not consider it ioirihwhat of an impertinence for Italy and Franc® to step tn and ask to Ik> included na guaranteeing Powers, on Ibo ground that their Mediterranean interests were considerable P The American Union is indeed, as Mr Blaine truly says, a great and peaceful nation. Unless pressed there is no probability of its going to war with any of the military States of Europe. The smallness of the American array and nary put offensive warfare, and therefore a policy of aggression,^almost out of the question. The position, the wealth, the population of the States, combined with the courage and intelligence of their people, render them far too formidable a 100 to attack lightly. If any one Power Is to guarantee the Panama Canal, that Power ought certainly to bo America. Under her guardianship its passage would have os good a prospect as could bo wished of remaining free and undisturbed. In the meantime, there is no indication that cither England or anyone else Intends to take up the gauntlet which Mr Blaine has been in such haste to fling. The causa of his premature agitation, the Canal iteclf, is yet a long way off completion. II recent account® are to be credited, the natural difficulties in the way are giving trouble enough without the addition of diplomatic ones. Fever, hurricanes, and earthquakes, are the foe® which now task all the energy of M. do Lecseps and his engineers. Under the circumstances, it iv at least probable that Lord Granville, never given to going half way towards foreign complications, real or imaginary, will bo content to bide bis time. Franco is not likely to quarrel with America; ibe traditions of the sister Republics have ever been too friendly for tbai Bismarck has enough on his hands just now to keep his eyes fixed on Homo affairs. Russia and Austria have as much concern with Panama as they have with Timbuctoo, and no more. So, for the present, at all events, we may regard the question of the neutrality of the Canal as —to use Lord Derby’s once oft • quoted phrase—quite outside the range of practical politics. When our steamers have begun to steer towards the swampy shores of Central America, we may rest assured that an amicable understanding on the matter will have been reached by the Governments of London and Washington. The point in dispute is, after all, little more than a matter of International courtesy. America promises to prevent the war-ships of any nation engaged in hostilities from making use of the canal. In the event, therefore, for example, of France and England going to war, neither could venture to force a passage without the certainty of seeing America enlisted on the side of their enemies. This is, after all, nearly as good a security as if America, England, France, Germany, Ac., were to mutually agree and bind themselves not to use the Canal in time of war, or allow any other nation to do so. America’s position, for exercising any absolute physical control over the Canal, is no better than that of Great Britain or others. Nor will it be in the least degree improved if Europe tacitly acquiesces in Mr Blaine’s demands. On the whole then, we are inclined to think of his document, that though some of its arguments may be strained—as for example, ibe parallel sought to be drawn between Belgium and Panama—its object is yet not unreasonable, while it is certainly harmless.