324 PUBLIC TREATIES. Anricnn VI. Friendly States The contracting parties in this convention engage to invite every to invited ¢<> State with which both or either have friendly intercourse to enter into P“m°‘P"t°· stipulations with them similar to those which they have entered into with each other, to the end that all other States may share in the honor and advantage of having contributed to a work of such general inter- _ T¤=¤PY ¤¤iP¤l¤· est and importance as the canal herein contemplated. And the con- K°"“ V"°hS&’;;""1 tracting parties likewise agree that each shall enter into treaty stipulammmntions with such of the Central American States as they may deem advisable for the purpose of more effectually carrying out thegreatdesign of this convention, namely, that of constructing and maintaining the said canal as a ship communication between the two oceans, for the benefit of mankind, on equal terms to all, and of protecting the same; and they also agree that the good offices of either shall be employed, when requested by the other, in aiding and assisting the negotiation ot . S°m°”'°“* of such treaty stipulations; and should any differences arise as to right or d'E°°°“°°°‘ property over the territory through which the said canal shall pass, between the States or Governments of Central America, and such diiierences should in any way impede or obstruct the execution of the said canal, the Governments of the United States and Great Britain will use their good onices to settle such differences in the manner best suited to promote the interests of the said canal, and to strengthen the bonds of triendship and alliance which exist between the contracting parties. Anricnn VII. C<>¤¤‘¢?<>¤ t0_ be It being desirable that no time should be unnecessarily lost in comgQ§‘$‘,;;_;“”° ‘”"h' mencing and constructing the said canal, the Governments of the United ` States and Great Britain determine to give their support and encouragement to such persons or company as may first oder to commence the same, with the necessary capital, the consent of the local authorities, and on such principles as accord with the spirit and intention of this convention; and if any persons or company should already have, with any State through which the proposed shipcanal may pass, a contract for the construction of such a canal as that specined in this convention, to the stipulations of which contract neither of the contracting parties in this convention have any just cause to object, and the said persons or company shall, moreover, have made preparations and expended time, money, and trouble on the faith of such contract, it is hereby agreed Priority of claim. that such persons or company shall have a priority of claim over every other person, persons, or company to the protection of the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, and be allowed a year from the date of the exchange of the ratitications of this convention for concluding their arrangements and presenting evidence of sufficient capital subscribed to accompl_ish the contemplated undertaking; it being understood that it', at the expiration of the aforesaid period, such persons or company be not able to commence and carry out the proposed enterprize, then the Governments of the United States and Great Britain shall be free to aiiord their protection to any other persons or company that shall be prepared to commence and proceed with the construction of the canal in question. Aarrorn VIII. P ¤>¤*>¤*i<>Q iv The Governments of the United States and Great Britain havin not
“°““"““‘°‘·" only desired, in entering into this convention, to accomplish a paraioular object, but also to establish a general principle, they hereby agree
to extend their protection, by treaty stipulations, to any other practicablecommunications, whether by canal or railway, across the isthmus which connccts_North and South America. and especially to the interoceanic communications, should the same prove to be practicable, whether
