The times., 1897-09-10
BUYING THE PANAMA DITCH
An Alleged Game of Grab by
Great Britain.
WANTED BY A SYNDICATE
Assistant Secretary CridIer Makes
Comments on Sensational Story
The Treaty of 1916 Protects
American Rights This Country
VIII Ignore the Canard.

The report that England has secured
from the Colombian Government conces
sion to complete the Panama Canal was de
cl8reG at the State Department. TO be pre-
posterous. The only conceivable founda.
Uion for such d rumor lies in the possible
success 1f a syndicate OF capitalists. headed
by Englshmen, who have been for some
time negotiating with the French conces-
siolisEs TO secure control of the works and
at the same time induce Colombia to grant
an extension of time and certain modifica-
tious Of the existing agreement. 1t is de-
clared that the English government has
never contemplated securing control Of the
canal, tut, on the contrary, opposes the
aspirations of any government in that di-
rection.
1t is alzo pointed out that the official
surveys OF England, as well as those of
the United States boards of engineers,
denounce the feasibility of the NAL ana
the agreement OF this country and Great
Britain regarding the project is complete
and unlikely 10 be modified. The i'm
proved prospect how existing of the early
commencement OF the Nicaragua Canal
is thought u be the cause OF setting
an absurd runor afloat either for stock
1obiing purposes or to bolster up Colom-
bias financi al standing preliminary TO
another bond issaein thatunstable country.
All tile higher officials here ridcule the
rumor which they say CO mesfrom aUsually
unreliable source, and they are confident
that IN authoritative denial from the
English government viii be omptly forth
coming. The United States viii not make
any representations to England to inquire
Officially as to whether any change Of that
government S attitude has occurred, not
attaching sufficient Importance to the
suggestion. The Importance attached a.
the runor by sensational New York
paper is considered extremely ridiculous
The newspaper story referred to was
that the Frenchmen who control the
great. but somewhat visionary, interest
across the Isthnus, had sold out or trans.
ferVed the oonpany's concessions to Eng
land. A loOphole through which readers
might be induced to believe the story was
to the effect that although England had
not purchased these rights, the transfer
might have heen made 10 Engllshmen.
The negadon division OF the State De
paTtment handled the allegations of these
iStumian dispatches with celebrity yesterday
morEing. Assistant Secretary Cridler dis
credited the report at the first blush. He
denied that there was any ensation at
the depa rtment or any undue excitement
Of any kind, principally owing TO the
weather and also TO the incidental fact
that the New York story was deficient in
yerisimili tude.
But suppose 1t We're true?" he was
ask ed.
That I don't care to discuss was the
reply. The question involves a construc-
ton Of the Monroe doctrine. and that is for
tie President to discuss
Mr. Cridier was asked If the sale Of
the canal franchises to Englishmen, with
the possibility in fact the apparent prob
ability, o. rctraIsfer To the English gov
ernTnent, WOULD not mean an Anglo-Saxon
method of doing a thing prohibited by
the Monroe doctrine.
The Assistant Secretary did not make
any repig, but looked as if he were an
swering affirmatively. A great many peo-
! pie, however. have been fooled by trying to
read Cart. Cridler psychologically or to
think aloud for him.
The Assistant Secretary however, said
that the public could get some information
on TIE subject by referring to Article 80 of
the treaty of 1916 between the United
states Of America and the republic of New
Grenada.
This appears to indicate that even If
England should acquire the canal by pur-
chase she would be obliged 10 keep il as
public highway. The presumption of
purchase as a detour OF the Monroe doctrine
is regarded at the depar tinent as undip.
lomatic and absurd.