The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-29
THE TREATY OF 1915.
Its Relation 20 the Current Isthmus Trans
pOrtptIou Controversy.

portnVOu controversy.
WASHINGTON. Nov 2a-Tho treaty Of 1916.
entered into by tho United states and New
Granada. provided that tho citizens. vessels.
and merchandise Of the former should
enjoy in the ports OF Now Granada including
the 1sthmus OF Panama as far as tho southern
boundary OF Costa Rlca. all tho exemptions.
privileges. and immuni les concerning COM
mcrce and navigation which wcro then or
might thereafter be enjoyed by the citizens.
vessels. and merchandise 81 New Granada.
This equality ofprivileges was to extend to the
passengers correspondence. and merchandise
OF the United States in their transit across the
isthmus between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Furthermore New Granada guaranteed that
the right OF way across the isthmus. either by
then existing or future modes OF communion
ton. should he open and free to the Govern
mont and citizens OF the United States. and to
any produce. manufactures. or merchandise
OF lawful commerce belonging to them: that
no morotos or charges should be levied or
collected thereon on any road or canal made
py New Granada or under its authority than
upon GranRdian citizens or merchandise:
nnallv. that no import duties should be col
iectrd on our merchandise thus passing in
transit Tor expectation to any other foreign
country. or. II paid. the duties should DO sub
)ect to drawback. on demand at the oxporta-
tion OF the goods
IL Is not clear what infringement OF those
stipu'ations is Threatened 10y tho notification
OF the Panama Railroad. that after jan
81 next no through bills Of lading from the
Atlantic to the Pacific will be accepted from
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. 1t may
be that this will be followed by othcr stops
that would DO an infringement OF the treaty
stipulntions. But there is apparently now no
intention to levy n Government import duty
on freight in transit. nor to take from United
States citizens any privileges continued to cit
liens New Granada. or. rather. of Colombia
which has succeeded to New Granadu's rights
III, as is suspected and alleged by tho Pacific
Null steamship Company. tn" Panama Rail
south American Steamship Company OF Chilli
in which this privilege u through bills q
appeal T. the courts. as. in fact. it has begun
to 40. It's resources for judicial redress on it's
con, constitute. however. another Iues-
strong: But the public question which has
been started is as to whether there has been
OF course. would not be permitted by this Gov
.in , whatever the means OF legal rrotec
ship company. And here. us has been said. the
tnir conclusion seems to be that the treaty has
thus IS, far ar, been respected; although careful
ton is made by the Panama Eailroad against
American citizens rs such.
from tho treaty Of 1876. tho Monroe ' doc trims
Is Is involved i Fran:e should undertake to
on T hs o @ Of hs @
roe doctrine would be clearly violated. But
thero Is no purpose visible IN the current
tie isihmus q Panama. Il looks rather
terminating existing rates for passengers and
1rgEnt On tne railroad to make them more
that turn ont a he ha in pt I'm NO
right to fix the rates. and u refusal to renew
az expired contract might not involve an in
1rlngement 81 the Monroe doctrine.
banana Railroad was once in American hands
shin to the French canal company. In this
there was nothing unpatrotic They held
their shares liks any other property. and sold
them as II business transaction Indeed. our
conntrymon were supposed to have got the
best end OF the bargain, as the canal company
trolling Interest in the railroad. and an cnor-
n nous prise was paid for it. At that time the
action was not considered such as to prevent
tho American owners from proftins by It. In
dee deed when Sf the canal comnany was formed
ity OF the Governor and people OF Panama.
1ured Mt that time the control OF the canal
enterprise had indeed been discussed: but
which SO many millions have BEEN sunk To wa a
not made an American enterprise. The Gov
eminent cut clear from any responsibility for
1t. and tho resulting disasters have fallen
upon France.
1t is believed. therefore. BY many that neither
the Monroe doctrine nor the treaty Of 1916
will be found to have anything to do with the
ut least in its present stnge. and. further. that
the lega! remedies Of the American company
will be found adequate to protect their rights
II is asserted in some quarters that the pres
ent move OF the Panama lailroad ia simply an
effort to force the steamship company to fur
nish it with more traffic. the present amount
being limited by its ARRANGEMENTS with
evidently believes TINT the railroad contem-
plates arrangements with the CHILEAN line.
Such course. however. would. 1t says. ignore
the express terms Of an agreement made in
1872. and /: SO. 1t may have legal remedy
on that score Meanwhile. il the slightest at
tempt should be made to injure the rights Of
Americans and their property on the sthmus.
the treaty Of 1896 would make it the right and
tho duty OF our Government to Interfere. pre-
cisely as it did in tho spring ri 1875 Happily,
hug f,r nd 70 "A