Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-26


NENr-NoTfcE SERVED on SHIPPERS The
STATE DEPARTMENT MAKING INQUIRY INTO
TIE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.
The action Of the Panama Railroad Com.
pany, now in the hands Of an Official Of
the French government. in serving q notice
upon shippers that on and after February
next no through bills Of lading from the At
lantic to the Pacific will be accepted from
the American representatives Of the company
has attracted attention to the condition of at
fairs on the isthmus, which, IL Is stated. may
shortly become the subject Of international ne
gotiation. The notice TO shippers referred to Is
said to have declared that all traffic arrange
ments between the railroad company and con-
meeting lines so far as they now affect Amer
lean business are to terminate on the date
named. Such a step by the French
government, which has taken charge
Of the affairs Of the Panama Canal Company
Will, it is held. practically destroy the COM
portion of the South American continent
ana the western coast of Amer
lea. Besides, 1t is held to be An
infringement Of the rights of the American
nation on the isthmus which cannot be over
looked by the American government
THE GOVERNMENT SEEKING INFORMATION.
Secretary of State Foster, who has been ap-
prised of the situation, has telegraphed to b.
gotta, In Colombia, for a full statement Of the
condition Of affairs, and upon its arrival it is
expected some action will be taken looking to
the protection Of American interests
Mr. Abbott, the minister Of the United States
70 Colombia, who has been home a short time
on leave, is now in New York, prepared TO re-
turn at once to his post.
AN EXPLANATION OF THE SITUATION.
Mr. W. P. Tisdel Of the State Department in
an interview explained the situation as follows:
THE stand taken by the French government
In this affair signifies an attempt on its part to
raise the French flag on that narrow strip of
Colombia's soil which by the treaty Of New
Grenada was to remain neutral. 1t means
an absolute destruction of the vast trade which
has already sprung up between this country and
those on the Pacific coast of South and Central
America, as well as the still more valuable in
forests which are to be insured TO the United
States by means Of the worlds Columbian ex-
position. 1t also means that the partial if not
the entire Latin-Americsn department Of
that exposition will be failure. The
United States ought at once take most
decided step toward preventing the consum-
nation OF the disaster. 1t should do so in no I'M
certain way. 1t must not say, Look out! There's
a Monroe doctrine, and if you go too far we II
come after you, but it should let both the
French and the Columbian governments under
stand that there is no trhing. The action of
the French government IN this affair is directed
solely against America and American COM
merce. have no doubt that q communication
will be sent to our minister in Paris and to the
Columbian government rernOnstrating against
this action, and declaring the sense of this
country to be- that it was unfriendly in it's in
tents and purposes"
Mr.. Adee, assistant secretary of state. in dis
cussing the matter said he thought il possible
that the notice issued by the receiver of the
hnY INIT hava lza
as not to conflict with any treaty stipulation,
and that the United States government would
have no reason to interfere unless there was an
unwarianted discrimination against this
country. He said, however, that the subject is
one demanding Observation-Disclosures.
THE TREATY sTIPULATIoNs.
The treaty with New Granada, under which,
it is claimed, the United States government is
bound to prevent any interference with transit
across the Isthmus of Panama and also the
special privileges intended TO be extended to
contains the following:
The United States of America and the re-
public of New Grenada desiring to make as
durable as possible the relations which are to
be established between the two parties by vir-
tue of this treaty. have declared solemnly and
do agree to the following points: For the bet
ter understanding Of the preceding articles 1t is
and has been sipule ted between The high con-
tracing parties that the citizens. vessels and
merchandise osths United States shall enjoy in
the ports Of New Grenada, Including those of
the Grenadian territory generally denominAted
Isthmus OF Panama, II ON its southt-nu1ost ex-
tremity unto the boundary of Costa Rica, all
the exemptions. privileges and immunities con-
corning commerce and navigation which are
now or may hereafter be enjoyed by GrensGian
citizens, their vessels and merchandise and
that this equality of favors shall be made to ex-
nra .N,.I. 4
merchandise Of the United States in their
transit across said territory from one sea TO the
other"
The government of New Grenada guarantees
to the government of the United States that the
right OF way transit across the Issbmus of
Panama upon any modes of communication that
now exist or that may hereafter be constructed
shall be open and free to the government and
citizens Of the United States and for the trans
portaton OF any articles OF produce manu-
features or merchandise OF lawfulcommerce be-
longing to the citizens Of the United States;
that neither tolls nor charges shall be levied
or collected upon tine citizens of the United
States or their said merchandise thus passing
over any road or canal that may be
mado by the government of New Grenada or
by the authority of the same than is under
like circumstances levied upon and collected
from the Grenadian citizen; that any law
full produce, manufactures or merchandise be-
longing to citizens of the United States thus
passing from one to the other, in either di-
rection, for the purpose Of expectation to any
other foreign country. shall not be liable to any
import duties whatever, or having paid such
duties they shall be entitled to drawback upon
their expectation: nor shall the citizens of the
United States be liable to any duties, tolls for
charge.
An APPEAL TO THE Courts.
The first step in the direction of protecting
American rights aud commercial interests ON
the Isthmus of Panama was taken in New York
An action was instituted in the supreme
court OF New York by the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company against the Panama Railroad
Company, in which an injunction was granted
by Judge Truax restraining the railway COM
pany from in any manner, directly or indi-
rectly, concerning itself or conducting any
service Whatsoever by vessel in whatsoever
manner propelled from any port to any one or
more OF the other ports lying between the
ports Of Panama and Acapulco and in
elusive of said last mentioned ports, and
eujoining 1t from entering into any
az reement or understanding with the Cha Sud
Americana de Vapores any company or with
the owner Of any vessel looking to the employ
ment of any vessel for the transportation Of
goods, passengers, mail or otherwise. between
the ports of Panama and Acapulco and inciu-
sive Of said last mentioned ports or for the per-
Of any business that may affect the
Central American line between Panama on the
south and Acapulco on the north on tine Pacific
ocean.
no REPLY FROM BosorA.