The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-10
BRITAIN WILL NOT GET IN
NO GOVERNMENT CAN OWN THE PAN
ANA CANAL CONCESSION.
Denial of the Report that the Fran
chise Has Passed Out of Control
of the French Company.

WASHINGTON Sept. 9.-The attention
of Senior Julio Rengifo, the representative
of the Republic of Colombia, was called
to-day to reports that Colombia had
granted a concession to England TO COM
plete the Panama canal thus transferring
that mammoth enterprise from French to
English hands. Senior Bengfo said he had
received no information from his govern
ment on the subject as the canal project
did not come within the jurisdiction of the
representative in Washington. AT the same
time, speaking from an extended acquaint-
ance with the canal affairs General Rem
gifo expressed great doubt as to the ac-
curacy of the reports, and pointed out
number of circumstances showing that 1T
was impossible that such a concession to
England or any other foreign government
had been granted. Only a few weeks ago
Director General Huetin, of the Panama
Canal Company, was in Washington and
paid his respects to General Rengifo. The
call was unofficial, and one of courtesy by
General Huetin, who spoke with the great
est satisfaction of the work being done by
the French company, and gave no intima-
ton that any transfer to English hands,
much less to the English government was
contemplated. All his conversation indi-
pletion of the project on Its present line.
Since then Generel Huetin has gone to
Paris, and other officials of the French
government have gone to Colon to carry on
the work. All of these are Frenchmen, M
George Belin being relieved from director
in charge at Colon by M. Boyer and M.
Marie.
It appears that the original concession
from Colombia was to d private French
company, great care being taken that TO
special privileges should be given to any
particular country as that would be mani
testify a violation of the Monroe doctrine
which the United States would not tolerate.
For this reason the concession gave no
rights to the French government, and it
was particularly stipulated that the canal
for all time should remain neutral and be
open to the ships of all nations without
preference or discrimination. When Di-
rector General Huetin was here recently
he said that about 5000 men were at WORK
at the present time, and II was INTENDED
to largely augment this force Under these
circumstances it is pointed out by omclalS
eonVersant with the status of the canal
that no concession could be granted to a
foreign government, either by Colombia or
by the French company, as the latter is
expressly prohibited from granting advan-
tageS to any particular nation, and Co.
lombia has already transferred her inter-
eStS to the French company. 1t is not
doubted, however, that the French COM
pany is enlisting private capital in the en-
terprise wherever it can secure it, either in
England the United States, France or any
other country, but this is regarded as with
out SlgnlHcdnce
At the State Department no information
has come from the consular officers at
Panama that any change in the canal con-
cessions had occurred. Secretary Sherman
stated that while he had no official infor-
nation on the subject, he was convinced
that there was no truth in the report that
Great Britain had undertaken to complete
the canal. England has no desire to en-
bark in such an undertaking, he SAID,
land had no such intention. Individual
subjects of that country have interested
themselves in vast enterprises in all parts
of the world but so far as l know there
are no indications that they have gone
into the Panama canal scheme"