Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-09
A Disoredited Report Of a Conoes-
sion to England.
VIEW OF COLOMBIA'S REPRESENTATIVE
Secretary Sherman Has No Advices,
but Disbelieves the Statement.
THE FRENCH AT WORK


England to complete the Panama canal,
thus transferring that mammoth enter
prise from French to English hands.
Senior Rengifo said he had received no
information from his government on the
subject, the canal project did not come
within the jurisdiction of the representa-
tive in Washington. At the same time,
speaking from an extended acquaintance
With the carai Affairs, he expressed great
doubt as to the accuracy of the reports,
and pointed out a number of circumstances
showing that it was improbable that such
a conce: sion had been granted to Eng
land or TO any other foreign government.
Only a few weeks ago Director Cen
eral Hutin of the Panama Canal Company
was in Washington and paid his respects
to General Rengifo before returning to
Paris. The call was wholly unofficial and
one of courtesy, but General Hutin spoke
with the greatest satisfaction of the work
being done by the French company, and
gave no intiniation that any transfer to
English hands. much less to the English
government. was contemplated. All his
conversation indicated full confidence in
the successful completion of the project on
present lines. Since then General Hutin
has gone to Paris, and other officials of the
French compeny have gone to Colon to
carry on the work. All of these are French
men. NJ George Belin being relieved from
director III charge AT Colon Dy NJ. ROyST
and NJ. Marie.
Original Concessions.
1t appears that the original concession
from Colombia was to private French
company. great care being taken that no
special privileges should be given to any
particular country. as that would be mani
testify a violation of the Monroe doctrine,
which It is known the United States would
not have tolerated. For this reason the con-
oess.on gave no rights to the French gov
Grnment. but IT was particularly stipulated
that the canal should for all time remain
eutral and be open to the ships of all the
nations of the world, without preference
CT discrimination. This concession IS. still
in existence. having been twice renewed.
and an extensive amount of work has been
done under it.
The entire route is about forty-six miles
and up to SS the company had succeeded
IN opening navisable channel about Il
kilometers in length on the Atlantic side,
while about : or 8 kiiometers had been cut
to a navigable width and depth on the
Pacific side. At that time from 1000 to
1900 men were employed on the huge I'M
dertaking. Then came a period of depreS-
sion, following troubles which occurred in
Paris in connection with the company, and
the work fell off. When Director General
Hutin was here recently he said that about
1900 men were at work at the present
time. and it was intended to largely aug
ment this force.
Under these circumstances, it is pointed
out by officials conVersant with the status
of the canal, that no concession could be
granted to a foreign governme either by
Colombia or by the French company, as
the latter is expressly prohibited from
granting advantages to any particular ma
ucn, and Colombia has already transferred
her interests TO the French company.
Enli~tin. Private Capital.
1t is not doubted, however. that the
Erarch iS
ital in the enterprise wherever it can secure
it. either in England. the United States,
France or any other country. That this is
being done is not known to- officials here,
but it is said that it would be without
significance, as ii is the usual procedure.
The main interest the United States has in
the enterprise is that of keeping it from
passing into the control of foreign gov.
eminent, and officials say there is no pos
sibility Of such a contingency. owing to the
policy of Colombia. as shown by the con-
CO ssion. to keep the canal neutral ard
thereby avoid any possible question in
volving the Monroe doctrine.
Secretary Sherman IncreduIOus
At the State Department no information
has come from the consular officers at
Panama points that any change in the
canal situation had occurred, and the re-
ported concession to Great Britain Is who'll
ly discredited.
Secretary Sherman told a Star reporter
this afternoon that, while he had no official
information on the subject, he was con-
WINGED that there was no truth in the re-
port that Great Britain had undertaken TO
complete the Panama canal. England had
no desire to embark in such an undertake
ing, ne said, and 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 I
know there are no indications that they
have gone into the Panama canal scheme
Obligations of the United States.
Another high official of the State Depart
ment said that the obligations of the
United States with respect to the Isthmus
of Panama are clearly stalled in the thirty
NTH article of the treaty of New Granada
of 1916, which is as follows:
The United States of America and the
Republic of New Granada desiring to make
as durable possible the relations which
are 10 be established between the two mar
ues Dy virtue of this treaty, have declared
sciemniy, and do agree to the following
points: me
First. For the better understanding of
tne preceding articles, it Is, and has been
stipulated between the high Contracting
raruss. tEat the citizens, vessels and
merchandise of the United States shall en-
JOY In the ports OF New Granada, Including
those OF the part of the Granadian terri;
Tory generally denominated Isthmus of
until the boundary Of Costa RIGA. ali tho
exemptions. privileges and immunities CON
corning commerce and navigation. which
are now or may hereafter. be enioyed hv
Granadian citizens. their vessels ana
merchandise; and that this eo,,aIirv ~
IaVofs shall be made to extend to the nas.
sengers. correspondence and merchandisa
or the Cnifed States. in their transit across
other. ~ u the
Inc government of New Granada omar
antees to the government of the Initial
states that the right of way or trans;.
across the Isthmus of Panama, upon any
modes of communication that now exis.
OF tnat may be hereafter constructed shat,
De open and free to the government and
citizens of the United States. and for the
transportation of any articles of produca
manufactures OR merchandise of Lawful
commerce belonging to the citizens Of the
United states. that no other tolls or
charges shall be levied or collected ,,non
the citizens of the United States or their
said merchandise thus passing over anv
read or canal that may be made by the
government of New Granada or by the
authority OF the same than is under like
circumstances levied upon and collected
from the Granedian citizens; that any la
full produce. manufactures or merchandise
belonging to citizens of the United States
thus passing from one sea to the other. in
either direction, for the purpose of exnorto