The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-22
SENATE is GIVEN DOCUMENTS
INFORMATION AS TO POLICY OF
FORMER OFFICIALS OF THE
GOVERNMENT
ARE DIRECT TO THE POINT
COncIusIVeIy shown That America
Intends to Have the Say In
Any Waterway Across
the Isthmus.


to a resolution of the senate, the presi-
dent today sent TO that body the CORES
pondence between the United States and
the government of Colombia, relative to
the Panama canal. The correspondence
covers the period from 1879 to 1897, and
much of It. has been heretofore printed
Among the documents which have not
been published is a letter Of April 10,
1880, from Secretary Evarts to United
States Minister Emert Dichman, concern
ing the Panama canal concession in
which the secretary says:
THE government of the United States
might be willing, in the matter of the
mercantile interests of its citizens, to
trust to the intelligent self-interest Of
those who undertake it's construction to
see that reasonableness and equality of
tolls, simplicity Of regulation and perfect
lmpartiality Of treatment should be made
lhe inducements to draw the commerce OF
all nations to its channel But 1t cannot
be concealed that the government Of the
United States does not attempt to con-
zeal 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 world 5 politics which at all threatens
their tranquility; while their relations
those of peace and good will, yet it Is
unwise not to anticipate possible contin-
gencies which may expose our systems to
trials not now obvious or probable"
IN EVENT OF WAR.
He then dwells upon the changed con-
ditiOns which would be made apparent in
case of war and says:
"All the treaties of neutrality in the
world might fail to be a safeguard in
time of great conflict"
He therefore instructs Mr.. Dichman to
say to the Colombian government that
1t is source of profound regret TO this
government that the government of Col
ombia has hitherto refrained from COM
municatiOn upon the subject of the re-
cent commission, as the treaty relations
between the two countries justified us in
expecting
demand that the construction of an 18TH
mian canal Should be subject of Joint
consideration, with a view to the protec-
tion Of those interests which bind the
South and North American republics to-
gether as closely as other interests and
relations bind the European, powers.'
He also gave instructions to add that
the United States government did not
consider itself excluded by an agreement
to which 1t was not a party. On this
point he said:
You VIII add that this government
cannot consider Itself excluded by any
arrangements between any other powers
or individuals to which it is not party,
from a direct interest and, If necessary,
positive supervision and interposition
IN the execution OF any project which, by
completing an lnteroceanic connection
through the isthmus, would materially
affect its commercial interests change
the territorial relations of its own SOW
ereignty, and impose on 1t the necessity
of a foreign policy which, whether in
fits feature of warlike preparation or en-
tangling alliance, has been hitherto ardu-
ously avoided
COLOMBIA'S WEAKNESS.
Concluding a long communication he
said;
Should this interoceanic connection
ever be accomplished and should it's con-
troll become, in the complications of in
ternatonal relations, a matter of i'm
portance to any power. it viii surely not
be deemed by the Colombian government
either disrespectful or unfriendly to sug-
geSt that the military strength of tbs
government of Colombia would be made,
quate to maintain it's security or neu-
trality, and that the enforcement of the
guarantee of the United States would
probably be sought as it has been before
Should the possibility OF such a neces-
sity become a probable occurrence it
would be the duty Of the United States,
not only to themselves, but the govern
ment of Colombia, to see that they were
in position to enforce the guarantees
which existing treaties impose upon
them, and which their feeling Of sincere
friendship for the government CT Colon
bia would induce them to fulfill with
Scrupulous fidelity"
Another communication Of some inter
est is that of Secretary Foster to Mr.
Coughlin, OF Dec, 22, 1892 relating to the
request of the Panama canal company
for an extension of one year He OBJ
posed the concession, saying that the
company was bankrupt, and hence the
application for an extension was not
bona fide.
''In view of this he said, ''the United
States government earnestly trusts that
no such extension will be granted with
out substantial guarantees"
Reporting later that the extension had
been granted, Minister Abbott said
THE time will never come, In nv iudR-
ment. when the Colombian government
win refuse To grant canal concessions 10
European companies until a definite
proposition for the construction of the
work shall come from the government OF
reliable company of the United States. =
PLEA FOR PANAMA.
The last document of the series is q
remonstrance from Charge Rengifo OF
the Colombian legation at Washington
against the attitude of the United States
government towards the Nicaraguan
canal. He SAID the new Panama cana
company is well equipped, and reminds
the secretary of state that there are
doubts about the practicability of the
construction of the Nicaragua 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 country tc
the Nicaragua route would be injurious
to the Panama.
Hon. John Sherman was the secretary