Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-03
THE PANAMA CANAL.
The Colombian Minister 30 France
Agrees With Secretary Blaine.

Nei5 York Special to the Cincinnati Gazette.
General Santo Domingo Villa, OF the Re
public Of Colombia, who signed in behalf Of
his government the protocol between it and
the United States, was seen by the Tribune
reporter st the Westminster Hotel on
October 26. The General was recently ap-
pointed Minister from Colombia to France,
and is on his way 10 the latter country. In
speaking Of the Panama canal complications
he said:
4 have read carefully the dispatch of
Secretary Blaine to Minister Lowell, and IL
anv Interpretation is correct, l perfectly
sgree with It, and think my government
will. Il has been suggested that Mr.
Blaine means to imply that the United
States will not suffer agreement between
the European powers IN regard to neutrality
Of the canal; but l take 1t that the Secre-
tary OF State means the United States Gov
eminent will not look with favor on any
such agreement to which it is not party"
"What is the sentiment OF your govern
ment in regard to the matterY
"The Colombian Government recognizes
the vital interests which the United States
have in any highway which may be con-
structed scross tie isthmus, and how much
more the States are interested than any
European power can be. The sentiment OF
me government, aud Of the people, is
strongly in favor Of this country, and we
desire that the dominant influence in the af-
fs-s OF the canal may be that Of the Unite
Stats. Our form of government and the
comm, -cial relations incline US to this
country. Still, other nations are TO be cor
sidered il the matter"
"DOes.ths Government of Colombia fear
that the European powers may make their
guaranty OF neutrality OF canal, If they
should make one, q prete9t for having a
footing on the isthmus, and thus endanger
liberties of Colombia, or at least, take from
Il entirely the control Of that part OF the
cOuntrY?'
''No, we fear nothing OF the sort, nor
would we permit It. The Government OF
Colombia could say, This is our land; this
Is our territory; We will let whoever we
please and whatever nation We see fit build
a canal across the Isthmus OF Panama, and
will give no guaranty Of any kind to any
government But we recognize the fact
that, though we are an independent nation,
and have a right to regulate our af-
fairs as best suits ourselves, yet there
Is duty which we owe to other
nations of consulting their wishes in
sffairs In which they are interested; and all
the world is deeply interested in the Panama
canal"
as the policy of the Colombian Govern
ment in accordance with the Monroe doc
trine?"
"Yes Wien 1 signed the protocol with
this nation my government declared itself
as being in accord with the Monroe doc
trine, and in favor Of its application TO the
sffairs OF the isthmus. We would wish that
the stock in the canal be more largely held
in the United States, and that the work was
being prosecuted under the patronage OF
this country. rather than that Of any Euro
pesn power"
"Wby did the Colombian Government
want to cancel the prOtocOl?"
"The protocol was, Of course, only q
memorandum, an outline on which the
treaty was to be based. The government
desired that It be sbrOgated, and formal
treaty substituted, in which all existing
phases Of the case could be attended to. We
do not desire iB any way TO take away from
the United States sny right to protect
her interests on the Istbmus. AS l was
leaving BogOts, the new Minister from he
United States was arriving, and do not
know what changes may have been made in
the plans and policy of the Colombian Gov
eminent since. Ny dispatches await me In
Paris. where l should have been by this
time had l not been delayed on the coast.
l trust that the whole matter OF the Panama
cansl will be settled in such manner that
the United States will have no cause TO
comDlain.H -