OCR Text |
Show NEW ISTHMIAN CANAL TREATY. HAY AND PAUNCEFOTE SIGN NEW TREATY. Ncn' Document Eliminates Features Objected Ob-jected to by United States Senate and Gives Freer Hand In Nlcaraguan Canal Building. The new Hay-Pauncefote treaty was signed Monday at 12:05 o'clock by Secretary Sec-retary Hay, for the United States, and Lord Pauncefote, the British embassa" dor. for Great Britain. This treaty is intended to repluce the first Hay-Pauncefote treaty. That convention was amended so extensively extensive-ly by the United States senate at its last session that the British government govern-ment declined to ratify it. Within a few weeks negotiations began afresh between Secretary Hay and Lord Pauncefote, which have just resulted in the signature of the new treaty, drawn with special reference to the objections found by the senate with the first treaty. The principal point of difference between be-tween the new and the failed treaty is the withdrawal of Great Britain from the joint guarantee of the neutrality of the canal, thus leaving the United States the sole guarantor The excision excis-ion of the old provision respecting the right to fortify the canal leaves that right by inference optional with the United States. All commerces of whatever nationality passing through the canal will fare alike; there will be no discrimination in rates in favor of United States shipping. Otherwise Other-wise the new treaty is in scope similar simi-lar to last year's treaty and is as follows: fol-lows: It is agreed that the canal may be constructed under tbe auspices of the governmentof the United States, either directly at its own cost, or by gift or loan of money by individuals or corporations, or through subscription to or purchase of stock or shares, and that, owing to the provisions of the present convention, the United States shall have and enjoy all the rights incident in-cident to such construction, as well as the exclusive right of providing for the regulation and management of the canal. Other provisions follow: 1. The canal shall be free and open to the vessels of commerce and of war of all nations, observing these rules on .fcsrnss. ff entire neu trality, so that there shall be no discrimination agahjtt SJiy such nation or its citizens or subjects in respect to the conditions or charges of traffic or otherwise. 2. The canal shall never be blockaded, block-aded, nor shall any right of war be exceeded or any act of hostility be committed within it. 3. Vessels of war of a belligerent shall not enter or take any stores in the canal, except so far as may be strictly necessary, and the transit of such vessels through the canal shall be effected with the least delay possible, in accordance with the regulations in force and with only such intermission as may result from the necessities of the service. Prices shall be in all respects re-spects subject to the same rules as vessels ves-sels of war of the belligerents. 4. No belligerents shall embark or disembark troops, munitions of war or warlike materials in the canal except in case of accidental hindrance of the transit, and in such the transit shall be resumed with all possible dispatch. 5. The provisions of this article shall apply to waters adjacent to the canal, within three marine miles of either end. Vessels of war of a belligerent shall not remain in such waters longer than twenty-four hours at any one time, except in case of distress, and in such cases shall depart as soon as possible; pos-sible; but a vessel of war of one belligerent bel-ligerent shall not depart within twenty-four hours from the departure of a vessel of war of tbe other belligerent. 6. The plant, establishment, buildings build-ings and all works necessary to the construction, maintenance and operation opera-tion of the canal shall be deemed to be part thereof for the purposes of this convent'on, and in time of war as in time of peace, shall enjoy complete Immunity from attack or injury by belligerents, and from acts calculated to impair their usefulness as part of the canal. |