The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-27
INTERocEANlc CANAL QUESTION

Omaha Bee: President Roosevelt
is not only in favor of an inter-
oceanic canal but as au~thoritatively
stated he approves the negotiations
in progress for a treaty with Eng
land relative to the proposed canal.
1t had been reported that there was
disagreement between the president
and the secretary of state in regard
to this. The report has been denied
by Secretary Hay and the fact that
he is to remain in the cabinet is evil
dence that there is no disagreement,
but on the contrary, as stated by the
secretary Of state, complete harmony
n agreement upon every question
of foreign policy nov before the con
sideration of the government.
The influence of the administration,
therefore, will be exerted for the rati-
fication of whatever treaty is negoti-
ated between the two governments
and it is the anticipation that the me-
! gotiations will result in an agreement
which will be satisfactory to congress-.
1t is the understanding that a number
of senators who were adverse to the
naturalization provision of the Hay
Pauncefote treaty have changed their
view, while it is also understood that
the British government will %reliquish
some of it's conditions, though insist
inu ,pr1, q y,n11tJo1 ao11o1 Thorn cnor,c
to be no doubt that Great Britain is
entirely willing to abandon all claim
to joint control of a tr~ansisthmian
canal and to leave it entirely in the
control and management of the Unit
ed States il this government will sim
ply agree to it's naturalization. That
appears to be the only point at issue
and it's amicable and satisfactory set
Element is regarded as probable, if not
absolutely assured. Our government
has recognized the claim of Great
Britain that the Clayton-Bulwer con-
vention is in full force and effect. That
was done in the negotiation of a treaty
to replace the old one and in the ac-
ton taken by the senate upon that
treaty. This is a matter, therefore,
that is no longer in controversy,
though it is of course to be expected
that it will be proposed in congress to
legislate for the construction of the
Nicaragua canal regardless of the
treaty.
The final report of the Isthmian
canal commission is about ready for
submission to the president, but it
probably will not be made public be,
fore the meeting of congress. Nothing
definite is known in regard to the rec
concentrations the commission will
make, but the expectation is that they
will favor the Nicaragua route. Mean
while the Panama interests appear
not to be idle and there have been
reports from Paris that if this govern
ment desires the Panama route it car
purchase the property and the rights
from the canal company for about
$50, 000, 000. This, it is stated, is only
about one-third of the amount that
has been expended in the construction
of the canal. A Washington dispatch
says it is conceded that this govern
ment will not consider any proposition
with regard to the Panama canal that
would connect it in any way with the
French concern. The only PROPOSE.
ton that would receive consideration
would be one for absolute purchase
and control. If this could be secured
for $4,000, 900 the cost of completing
the Panama canal would undoubtedly
be less than that of constructing the
proposed Nicaragua canal, but the re
port of the commission may show
other important considerations max
ing the latter the preferable route.
THINGS ARE MOVING.