So it would appear that the United States feels itself at liberty to expand anywhere while prohibiting like expansion to foreign powers, European or Asiatic.

The current interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine by the United States is not quite clear and may be open to grave question by the powers at some future date. They are beginning to look upon the exercise of the Monroe Doctrine by the United States as one of singular opportunism.

CHAPTER VII.

The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty between the United States and Great Britain, of April 19th, 1850, provided that no fortifications shall be established in Central America. This is contained in the following provision which is one of the articles of the treaty:

"The Governments of the United States and Great Britain hereby declare that neither the one nor the other will ever obtain or maintain for itself any exclusive control over the said ship canal; agreeing that neither will ever erect or maintain any fortifications commanding the same or in the vicinity thereof, or occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume, or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito Coast, or any part of Central America."

This treaty was abrogated in 1900 and a draft of the first Hay-Pauncefote treaty substituted. Article VII. contained:

"No fortifications shall be erected commanding the canal or the waters adjacent. The United States, however, shall be at liberty to maintain such military police along the canal as may be necessary to protect it against lawlessness and disorder."

This treaty was not ratified by the United States Senate, but the second or following treaty was executed.

As will be seen in the treaty the question of fortifications remains especially ambiguous and open to argument. It only allows the United States to protect the canal against lawlessness.

HAY-PAUNCEFOTE TREATY

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREat Britain,

TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SHIP CANAL.

Signed at Washington, November 18, 1901. Ratified by Great Britain, January 20, 1902. Ratification advised by the Senate, December 16, 1901. Ratifications exchanged at Washington, February 21, 1902. Ratified by the President, December 26, 1901.

Proclaimed, February 22, 1902,

"BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. "A PROCLAMATION.

"Whereas, a Convention between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to facilitate the construction of a ship canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, by whatever route may be considered expedient, and to that end to remove any objection which may arise out of the Convention of the 19th April, 1850, commonly called the ClaytonBulwer treaty, to the construction of such canal under the auspices of the Government of the United States, without impairing the 'general principle' of neutralization established in Article VIII. of that Convention, was concluded and signed by their respective plenipotentiaries at the city of Washington on the 18th day of November, 1901, the original of that Convention is word for word as follows:

"TREATY.

"THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and HIS MAJESTY EDWARD THE SEVENTH, of the UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, KING, AND EMPEROR OF INDIA, being desirous to facilitate the construction of a ship canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, by whatever route may be considered expedient, and to that

end to remove any objection which may arise out of the Convention of the 19th April, 1850, commonly called the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, to the construction of such canal under the auspices of the Government of the United States, without impairing the 'general principle' of neutralization established in Article VIII. of that Convention, have for that purpose appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:

"THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States of America;

"AND HIS MAJESTY EDWARD THE SEVENTH, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King and Emperor of India, the Right Honourable Lord Pauncefote, C.C.B., C.C.M.C., His Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States;

"Who, having communicated to each other their full powers which were found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon the following Articles:

"ARTICLE I. The High Contracting Parties agree that the present Treaty shall supersede the afore-mentioned Convention of the 19th April, 1850.

"ARTICLE II. It is agreed that the canal may be constructed under the auspices of the Government of the United States, either directly at its own cost, or by gift or loan of money to individuals or Corporations, or through subscription to or purchase of stock or shares, and that subject to the provisions of the present Treaty, the said Government shall have and enjoy all the rights incident to such construction, as well as the exclusive right of providing for the regulation and management of the canal.

"ARTICLE III. The United States adopts, as the basis of the neutralization of such ship canal, the following

Rules, substantially as embodied in the Convention of Constantinople, signed the 28th October, 1888, for the free navigation of the Suez Canal, that is to say:

1. The canal shall be free and open to the vessels of commerce and of war of all nations observing these rules, on terms of entire equality, so that there shall be no discrimination against any such nation, or its citizens or subjects, in respect of the conditions or charges of trafiic, or otherwise. Such conditions and charges of traffic shall be just and equitable.

*"2. The canal shall never be blockaded, nor shall any right of war be exercised nor any act of hostility be comImitted within it. The United States, however, shall be at liberty to maintain such military police along the canal as may be necessary to protect it against lawlessness and disorder.

"3. Vessels of war of a belligerent shall not revictual nor 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 possible delay in accordance with the Regulations in force, and with only such intermission as may result from the necessities of the service.

"Prizes shall be in all respects subject to the same Rules as vessels of war of the belligerents.

"4. No belligerent shall embark or disembark troops, munitions of war, or warlike material, on the canal, except in case of accidental hindrance of the transit, and in such case the transit shall be resumed with all possible dispatch.

*Since this treaty was ratified the Canal entrances have been fortified and the heaviest artillery armaments in the world emplaced by the United States.