The times., 1900-12-19
CHARGED BY MR.. TILLMAN.
Colombia PurposcIy Ignored IL
Making Canal Treaties.

Making Canal Treaties.
In the Senate yesterday MIR. Tillman
offered resolution directing the Presi-
dent TO forward to the Senate all papers
and information in his possession regard
ing any past or proposed treaties between
this Government and the Government OF
Colombia
When the Senate went into executive
session Mr. Tillman asked for the imIne-
date consideration of his resolution.
When this was opposed by Mr.. Lodge.
Mr.. Tfllman declared that he had cis-
covered that Colombia was purposely ig-
nored by the State Department. and that.
in order to secure good thing for Great
Britain. diplomatic relations with Colom-
bia had been purposely cut off. He de-
Inanded that right should be done and
said he saw nothing American in ill:seat-
ing a little sister Republic so that we
might toady to a big Kingdom
Mr. TilIman then made statement OF
Just what he believed, asking why, If ne
gotiations had been entered into with
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, none had been
entered into with Colombia? He had been
assured he said that there never Lad
been any treaty secured with Colombia
regarding the canal. but he wanted his
resolution adopted just TO show he MAS
right. rot
He then argued that. while the report
OF the Walker Commission plainly sta ed
that the Panama Canal could be COM
pleted before the Nicaragua Canal couli
be begun. the State Department had care
fully protected the rights of the United
States with regard to Costa Rica and Me
aragua, but had done nothing as Tar al
Colombia was concerned.
Mr.. Tillman then announced that he
had been informed that a plan was
on foot whereby certain European Gov
ernments were to take the Panama
Canal and complete it before the United
States had fairly started work on the
Nicaragua waterway. He stated thtt
there seemed to be a scheme on foot,
aided and abetted by the State De-
partment, to defeat the purposes aimed
at by the supporters OF the all-American
canal. The very fact that American rights
are not in the least protected, he SAID,
showed plainly that there was an African
in the woodpile and he intended TO dis
lodge the colored man.
He read a despatch from Panama in
which Sencr Martinez Silva. the Colon
bian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated
that the Colombian Government was has
tening the opening of the Panama Canal
and that the action of the United States
in ignoring his Government would prove
to be a boomerang. The message stated
that the canal could be completed by 1906
and would be open to all nations.
Mr.. Hay. the Senator said, was not will
ing 10 enter into negotiations with COlom-
bia. for reasons of his own, but all Ameri-
cans wanted the truth in the case.
Mr.. Lodge made brief reply, in which
he stated that the treaty between the
United States and Colombia, made in 1886,
was still in force but could be abrogated
by either Government in twelve hours.
This treaty. he said, gives the United
States no right to transport troops, muni-
tions OF war or mails through the canal to
be constructed over the Panama route and
the Panama Canal Company is vested with
the right to enforce the treaty.
After the addition OF an amendment
offered by Mr.. Morgan, which made it in
cIude the correspondence with the Pan
anna Canal Company, the resolution was
adopted, and the canal treaty was taken
uD.