Page:The Panama Canal Controversy.djvu/20

 advantages to be derived from a canal when erected. Mr. Hise's convention was therefore abandoned, and the United States instructed his successor, Mr. Squier, to obtain a new convention, with a stipulation that vessels of all nations should be permitted to pass through the proposed canal subject to no higher rates or charges than those imposed on vessels of the United States.

These incidents show beyond a doubt that at the very time the Treaty of 1850 was under negotiation the policy of the United States remained unvaried; it was the policy of a canal open to all on equal terms. Indeed no other policy was possible, at least so far as Nicaragua was concerned, so long as Great Britain was in occupation of the coast through which a canal must find its way to the sea. It was the stress of this position which made the United States approach Great Britain and seek to effect some arrangement by which the position of American shipping might be rendered secure in the event of any canal being constructed. The Treaty was sought by the United States for their own protection.

Diplomatic negotiations were opened in the first instance by a verbal communication from Mr. Rives, acting on the instructions of the United States Government, to Lord Palmerston. Those instructions were in these terms:

'The United States sought no exclusive privilege or preferential right of any kind with regard to the proposed communication, and their sincere wish, if it should be found practicable, was to see it dedicated to the common use of all nations on the most liberal terms and a footing of perfect