Evening star., 1900-03-22
PANAMA CANAL QUESTION
Correspondents With the Government OF
Colombia.
Attitude of This Government a. Out
lined by Secretaries ESarts
and Foster.

The President yesterday afternoon, in re-
sponse to resolution of the Senate. sent
to that body the correspondence between
the United States and the government OF
Colombia relative to the Panama canal.
The correspan hence covers the period
from 1879 to 1S,-. and much of It has been
heretofore printed.
Among the documents which have not
been published is letter of April 10, 1850,
from Secretary Evarts to United States
Minister Emert Dlchman. in which
the Secretary took ground against the con-
duct of constructively oriticisng Colombia
in granting to the French government the
exclusive right to build a ranal across the
isthmus He said in this dispatch:
Relations Toward TIE Canal.
"The government of the United States
might be willing, in the matter of the mere
mercantile interests of its citizens, to trust
to the intelligent self-interest of those who
undertake its construction to see that rea-
sonableness and equality of tolls, simplicity
of regulation and perfect impartiality of
treatment should be made the inducements
to draw the commerce of all nations to its
channel. But it cannot be concealed, and
the government of the United States does
not attempt to conceal. that its relations
to this enterprise must be governed by
larger and more serious considerations. This
enterprise once achieved works more than
a commercial revolution. 1t touches the
conditions under which the security of the
United States may need to be maintained.
While the United States feel no concern
as to the adequacy of their power to meet
any emergencies that may arise; while there
is no issue in the worlds politics which a
all threatens their tranquility: while their
relations with all nations and promise
to be those of peace and good will. yet it
is unwise not to anticipate possible con-
lob
to trials not now obvious or probable
He dwells upon the changed conditions
which would be made apparent in case of
war and says: All the treaties of neu-
trality in the world might fail to be a safe
guard in time of great conflict"
Cause for Regret.
Hence he instructs Mr.. Dichman to say to
the Colombian government that it is a
source of profound regret to this govern
ment that the government of Colombia has
hitherto refrained from communication
upon the subject of the recent commission
as the treaty relations between the two
countries justified us in expecting" He
added that the United States would demand
that the construction of an isthmian canal
should be the subject of joint considera-
ton, with a view to the protection of those
interests which bind the South and North
American republics together as closely as
other interests and and relations bind the
European powers"
He further said: You will add that this
government cannot consider itself excluded
by any arrangements between other pow
erS or individuals to which ii is not a
party from a direct interest ard. if neces-
sary, positive supervision and interposi-
tion in the execution of any project which
by completing an interoceanic connection
through the isthmus would materially af-
feet its commercial interests. change the
territorial re ationS Of its own sovereignty
and impose on it the necessity of a foreign
nni tt-hi ieh tI1tI
warlike preparation or entangling alliances.
has been hitherto arduously avoided
To Maintain Canals Neutrality.
Concluding a long communication. he
said: Should this interoceanic connection
ever be accomplished, and should its control
become, in the complications of intcrna-
tional relations. matter of Importance to
any power. it will surely not be deemed by
the Colombian government either disre-
spectful or unfrfendly to suggest that the
military strength of the government of CO.
lombia would be inadequate to maintain its
security or neutrality and that the enforce
ment of the guarantee of the United States
would probably be sought, it has been
before. Should the possibility OF such a
necessity become a probable occurrence Il
would be the duty of the United States. not
only to themselves, but to the government
of Colombia, to see that they were in posi-
Ion to enforce the guarantee which existing
treaties impose upon them and which their
feeling of sincere friendship for the govern
ment of Colombia would induce them to
fulfill with scrupulous fidelity
Opposes Further Concesxion
Another communica ton of some interos:
is that of Secretary Foster to Mr. Couchlin
of December %, 1892, relating to the re-
quest of the Panama Canal Company Tor
an extension of one year. He opposed the
concession, saying that the company was
bankrupt, and hence the application for an
extension was not bona fide. I'm view Of
this" he said, '.tha United States govern
ment earnestly trusts that no such extern
sion will be granted without substantial
guarantees
Reporting later that the extension had
been granted, Minister Abbott said: THE
Tina will never come, in my judgment
when the Colombian government will re-
fuse to grant canal concessions to European
companies until a definite proposition Cor
the construction of the work shall come
from the government or reliable company
of the United States"
The last document of the series Is = re-
monstrance from Charge Renfigo of the 80
lombian legation at Washington against
the attitude of the United States govern
ment toward the Nicaragua canal. H. sail
the Panama Canal Company is we'll
equipped. and reminds the Secretary of
State that there are doubts about the prac-
tica bilfty of the construction of the Nicara-
qua route. He expressed doubt as to
whether. with the two canals constructed
either would pay, and reminded the United
States that the support given by this coun-
try to the Nicaragua route would be injuri-
Gus to Panama.
Mr. John Sherman was the Secretary and
the record shows that he only formally ac-
knowledged the note.