The sun., 1900-12-28
PANAMA CANAL co. PLANS.
SNtU sHaRyHOLDEHs 'OHPfHN Ar
HEETIyG ~ rams.
Directors Rsfss~ to Give Details of the >eSo-
ustions with the United states Some Vrss
That the Canal lie Finished Independent
of An, Action b., This Govern m~nt.
s.r,ai Cab,, D.,paich to THK srS

!spsc,ai Gao. Ds,paeh 10 THH SrN
P,ns Dec q IA. annual meeting of tho
new Panama Canal Company was held to-day.
about two hundred and nifty shareholders being
Present Director Eounet presided. The pro-
ceedings were lively. owing To criticisms ot the
fence OF the Board of Directors concerning
the progress Of the negotiations with the
United states and Colombia. The chairman
announced that the negotiations with Iolof'-
hia and the Panama Railroad Company Tor y
working port at La Poca had been concluded
in "a most satisfactory arrangement. re-
mort reviewing the situation In relation TO the
ultimat. realization OF the canal scheme
alluded 10 the report Of the American Com
Iuissiouers expressing the opinion that oo'h
the Nicaragua and Panama routes are prac-
tioally reaJizable. IL referred To the restne-
tive condi tons under which the Panama
concession was granted. and continued:
1T i. permissible TO hope that the reason
able accord in which the American ana
Colombian governments and our company
should help each other can be realized ana
that Il may finally determine the prefer
ences II the United States in favor "t the
Panama route Far from opposing reso-
lutte resistance To- the views OF the American
Government. We think that before dreaming
should be- directed t. obtain this accord by
mailing A. far a. We are concerned. such
concessions as are compatible with the IN
t.rests we have g. safeguard.
"'ro this end negoti iations At the Present
moment ar. being pursued at Washington
hv the chairman or your hoard Of Directors
lit becomes impossible to arrive at an equta-
HE entente with the nited States within
"A reasonable time We shall have to seek and
submit 10 vou means for actively proceeding
with our task You will easily understand
that II is neither possible nor pern'ssI"'e
to make n further statement on thlS p"'h'
to-day Moreover. the solutions when ma
h, arrived at will only become definite after
they have obi aIned our approval
Several OF the shareholder demanded
fuller particulars OF the negotiations. IheN
complained that the humble people VINO had
invested In the undertaking were unable 10
learn anything of the progress being nade
Others urged that supreme effort be maze
to finish the canal. They .ald that the Amer
leans intended to fortify their canal, a fact
which on ght to be enough 10 induce th" Euro
rean nations ~ hel pin completing the panama a
Canal and support IL when completed. Inc
shareholder. generally urged that the inter-
national character of the canal be maintained
and the idea that the undertaking Shouln oe
allowed to fall into the hands Of the Amer
cans for the price of old iron" was Wig
orously protested against.
After prolonged discussion somebody
conrlained Of the apathy OF the directors
who we're sitting stolidly silent and taking
no share in the discussion.
Director Thorou, manager Of the company'a
works. retorted that the discussion was IT.
relevant 20 the purpose for which the meeting
vas called Moreover. " was Impossible 10
give the details Of the negotiations actually
in progress
The Shareholders failing 10 draw any IN
formation, voted various resolutions anna
running. ironcal comments at the expense
OF the directors The ms"tlng hnaNy oroHe
up without passing the customary vote o'
thanks to the chairman.