would safeguard the reputation of the United States and assist the President in fixing rates, within the discretionary limit fixed by the Panama Canal act, that would be just and equitable to all parties in interest. This done, every investment interest of the United States would be safeguarded. The commercial interests of collective civilization would be protected by fair rates. Lastly, the United States would, by such a creditable act, give the world's peace movement increased momentum and would dedicate the canal "to the use of mankind on equal terms to all” as she has obligated herself to do by irrevocable treaty obligations. CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY OF APRIL, 1850 The United States of America and Her Britannic Majesty, being desirous of consolidating the relations of amity which so happily subsist between them, by setting forth and fixing in a convention their views and intentions with reference to any means of communication by shipcanal which may be constructed between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by the way of the river San Juan de Nicaragua and either or both of the lakes of Nicaragua or Managua, to any port or place on the Pacific Ocean, the President of the United States has conferred full powers on John M. Clayton, Secretary of State of the United States, and Her Britannic Majesty on the Right Honorable Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, a member of Her Majesty's most honorable privy council, knight commander of the most honorable Order of the Bath, and envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Her Britannic Majesty to the United States, for the aforesaid purpose; and the said plenipotentiaries having exchanged their full powers, which were found to be in proper form, have agreed to the following articles: ARTICLE I 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 sam |