policy. It turned out that a misunderstanding had been created by an error in the transmission of a cabled telegram over the use of the word "irrevocable". Wednesday, December 19, 1900 Governor-General of Australia Earl of Hopetoun passed up favorite Edmund Barton as his choice for the Commonwealth's first Prime Minister, selecting instead Sir William Lyne, in a decision memorialized as the Hopetoun Blunder. When key leaders said that they would not serve under Lyne, who had opposed the federation, Lyne withdrew on December 24, and Barton became the first Prime Minister of Australia on January 1, 1901. The Imperial Russian Navy established a special committee to evaluate construction of a submarine fleet. Thursday, December 20, 1900 By a 55–18 vote, the United States Senate ratified the treaty with the United Kingdom regarding the Nicaragua Canal, but with three amendments, including an American defense of the canal. The United Kingdom refused to ratify the altered treaty by the March 5, 1901, expiration. United States Secretary of State John Hay and British Ambassador Lord Pauncefote signed a new treaty in 1901 that was ratified by both nations in 1902. General Arthur MacArthur declared martial law over the Philippines under General Order 100. Philippine civilians who supported the rebels or stayed neutral would be subject to arrest, along with exile and even the death penalty. Astronomer Michel Giacobini spotted the Giacobini-Zinner comet, which came back around on October 23, 1913, and was spotted by Ernst Zinner. Born: Marinus van der Goes van Naters, Dutch politician, member of Dutch legislation from 1937 to 1940, and 1945 to 1967, imprisoned as a German prisoner of war during World War II; in Nijmegen (d. 2005) Friday, December 21, 1900 In Havana, John J. Moran volunteered to infect himself with yellow fever in order to confirm that the disease was spread by blood and not by air. At noon, Moran went into a room filled with infected mosquitoes and stayed for 30 minutes, getting bitten 7 times. Two other volunteers in the same room were protected by a mosquito-proof screen, breathed the same air, and stayed well. Moran became seriously ill, but survived and lived until 1950. The Philippine Commission, operated by the United States to govern the Philippines, directed that all of the islands' laws be printed in the English language. Died: Count Leonhard von Blumenthal, 90, Prussian army officer, field marshal who spared the