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any suggestion from him。 But as the case had dragged on interminably； and he believed； and the world believed； and the Canadians themselves knew； that they intended to filibuster and postpone as long as possible； he took the common…sense way to a settlement。 If he had resolved； as he had； to draw the boundary line 〃on his own hook；〃 in case there was further pettifogging he committed no impropriety in warning the British statesmen of his purpose。 In judging these Rooseveltian short cuts； the reader must decide whether they were justified by the good which they achieved。
Of even greater importance was the understanding reached； under Roosevelt's direction； with the British Government in regard to the construction of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama。 By the Clayton…Bulwer Treaty of 1850； the United States and Great Britain agreed to maintain free and uninterrupted passage across the Isthmus； and； further； that neither country should 〃obtain or maintain to itself any control over the said ship…canal；〃 or 〃assume or exercise any dominion 。 。 。 over any part of Central America。〃 The ship canal talked about as a probability in 1850 had become a necessity by 1900。 During the Spanish…American War； the American battleship Oregon had been obliged。 to make the voyage round Cape Horn； from San Francisco to Cuba； and this served to impress on the people of the United States the really acute need of a canal across the Isthmus； so that in time of war with a powerful enemy； our Atlantic fleet and our Pacific fleet might quickly pass from one coast to another。 It would obviously be impossible for us to play the role of a World Power unless we had this short line of communication。 But the conditions of peace； not less than the emergencies of war； called for a canal。 International commerce； as well as our own； required the saving of thousands of miles of distance。
About 1880； the French under Count De Lesseps undertook to construct a canal from Panama to Aspinwall； but after half a dozen years the French company suspended work； partly for financial reasons； and partly on account of the enormous loss of life among the diggers from the pestilent nature of the climate and the country。 Then followed a period of waiting； until it seemed certain that the French would never resume operations。 American promoters pressed the claims of a route through Nicaragua where they could secure concessions。 But it became clear that an enterprise of such far reaching political importance as a trans…Isthmian canal； should be under governmental control。 John Hay had been less than a year in the Department of State when he set about negotiating with England a treaty which should embody his ideas。 In Sir Julian Pauncefote； the British Ambassador at Washington； he had a most congenial man to deal with。 Both were gentlemen； both were firmly convinced that a canal must be constructed for the good of civilization； both held that to assure the friendship of the two great branches of the English…speaking race should be the transcendent aim of each。 They soon made a draft of a treaty which was submitted to the Senate；；but the Senators so amended it that the British Government refused to accept their amendments； and the project failed。 Hay was so terribly chagrined at the Senate's interference that he wished to resign。 There could be no doubt now； however； that if the canal had been undertaken on the terms of his first treaty； it would never have satisfied the United States and it would probably have been a continual source of international irritation。 Roosevelt was at that time Governor of New York； and I quote the following letter from him to Hay because it shows how clearly he saw the objections to the treaty； and the fundamental principles for the control of an Isthmian canal：
Albany； Feb。 18； 1900
'I hesitated long before I said anything about the treaty through sheer dread of two momentsthat in which I should receive your note； and that in which I should receive Cabot's。* But I made up my mind that at least I wished to be on record； for to my mind this step is one backward； and it may be fraught with very great mischief。 You have been the greatest Secretary of State I have seen in my timeOlney comes secondbut at this moment I can not； try as I may； see that you are right。 Understand me。 When the treaty is adopted； as I suppose it will be； I shall put the best face possible on it； and shall back the Administration as heartily as ever； but oh； how I wish you and the President would drop the treaty and push through a bill to build AND FORTIFY our own canal。
* Senator Henry Cabot Lodge； who also opposed the first treaty。
'My objections are twofold。 First； as to naval policy。 If the proposed canal had been in existence in '98； the Oregon could have come more quickly through to the Atlantic； but this fact would have been far outweighed by the fact that Cervera's fleet would have had open to it the chance of itself going through the canal； and thence sailing to attack Dewey or to menace our stripped Pacific Coast。 If that canal is open to the warships of an enemy； it is a menace to us in time of war； it is an added burden； an additional strategic point to be guarded by our fleet。 If fortified by us； it becomes one of the most potent sources of our possible sea strength。 Unless so fortified it strengthens against us every nation whose fleet is larger than our own。 One prime reason for fortifying our great seaports； is to unfetter our fleet； to release it for offensive purposes； and the proposed canal would fetter it again； for our fleet would have to watch it； and therefore do the work which a fort should do； and what it could do much better。
'Secondly； as to the Monroe Doctrine。 If we invite foreign powers to a joint ownership； a joint guarantee； of what so vitally concerns us but a little way from our borders； how can we possibly object to similar joint action； say in Southern Brazil or Argentina； where our interests are so much less evident？ If Germany has the same right that we have in the canal across Central America； why not in the partition of any part of Southern America？ To my mind； we should consistently refuse to all European powers the right to control in any shape； any territory in the Western Hemisphere which they do not already hold。
'As for existing treatiesI do not admit the 〃dead hand〃 of the treaty making power in the past。 A treaty can always be honorably abrogatedthough it must never be abrogated in dishonest fashion。'*
* W。 R。 Thayer： John Hay； II； 339…41。
Fortunately； Lord Salisbury； the British Prime Minister； remained benevolently disposed towards the Isthmian Canal； and in the following year he consented to take up the subject again。 A new treaty embodying the American amendments and the British objections was drafted； and passed the Senate a few months after Roosevelt became President。 Its vital provisions were； that it abrogated the Clayton…Bulwer Treaty and gave to the United States full ownership and control of the proposed canal。
This was the second illustration of Roosevelt's masterfulness in cutting through a diplomatic knot。 Arrangements for constructing the Canal itself forced on him a third display of his dy