New-York tribune., 1901-09-22

uon Tor the disposal OF It's rights and property,
the present phase Of the question is Of interest
First-It may be stated that all the experts
here who have studied the problem feel abso-
lutely convinced that by far the best and most
practical route is by Panama, and that Admiral
Walkers Isthman Canal Commission can
scarcely fail to choose that route
Second-The Colombian Government is will
ing for very slight consideration to give its nee
essary assent, required by treaty, to enable the
Panama company to transfer fits interests TO an
American company.
Third-The opinion prevails IN Paris that be-
fore long the Isthmian Canal Commission will
submit its final report and selection of a route.
and that this will be among the first important
questions that will come up for President Roose-
veIts decision
1t is further stated on excellent authority that
the only point remaining under discussion is the
price, and TO this there is considerable modi-
hcation of the views hitherto held here; for
those interested are aware that the United
States VIII never pay anything approaching the
fabulous amounts the old company wastefully
and scandalousy squandered on the canal but
the United States would find IT very advan-
tageous to pay the actual cash value represented
by the work done. by the existing property and
by the rights under the charter Such agree
ment is regarded as offering the only salts
factory solution A purchase price of 500. 100000
has already been spoken Of but this is not
felt. by those interested in the matter in Paris,
adequate. and impartial persons in a position
to know the facts inclined to think that a
fnal compromise will eventually be reached at a
figure about half way between S600O00OO and
S100,0O0,O00. At all events, the above statement
may be accepted as the actual position OF the
matter as II stands to-day.
Frenchmen of all classes and conditions mani
fest an earnest desire to get true notion Of
Theodore Roosevelt, both a and as a
statesman. and. above all, to form their own IN
dividual ideas Of the new President directly
from American sources of information. and not
through British spectacles. by means OF which
American public men and American events are
too often reflected in the Paris press. whose
correspondents on American soil are few and far
between. Americans of any prominence who
now happen TO be in Paris have been repeatedly
asked for every possible item Of information
concerning the man whose tragic advent to
power and whose comparative youth indepen-
dence and decision Of character appeal with
dramatic effect TO the French mind, which just
now is in the enthusiastic phase, prone to ex-
tend to President Roosevelt personal sym
pathy not perhaps elected by any American
since the days of BENJAMIN Franklin's phenom-
enal popularity in France. There is not a
newspaper in Paris that has not published lead
ing articles descriptive of President Roosevelt.
together with vouminous records Of his sayings
and doings His Life OF Cromwell" is widely
and favorably commented upon Great stress
is laid upon his indomitable honesty Of purpose.
Extracts from Mr.. Roosevelts speeches and
writings abound on all sides, and may some
day prove as embarrassing were the pre-
maturely published utterances Of Gladstone
However, thanks to data supplied by American
residents and tourists notably by Senator Lodge
who is believed to have availed himself of op-
portunities afforded by many informal conver-
sations with some OF the foremost men OF re-
publican France to call attention to the leading
traits Of President Roosevelts character and
personality. truthful idea Of Americas Chief
Ma gistrate prevails in this country.
Photographs of satisfactory accuracy have at
last been occurred by the Paris newspapers. The
'F'rancais" for instance, publishes on its front
page, pendant to portraits of the Empress
of Russia and her three daughters, homelike
sketch Of President Roosevelt as paterfamilias
seated in a chair with his youngest child in
nursery gown perched on his right shoulder.
Near by is his Wife surrounded by Ave other
Roosevelt children.
Probably the most disconsolate diplomatist in
Paris lust now is Sehor Cecilio Castro, who.
the personal representative Of President Castro.
arrived here last week with strong hopes of
being able TO accomplish renewal OF diplomatic
relations between France and Venezuela, which
were broken off IN 1896, owing to the refusal Of
the Venezuelan Government to acknowledge the
claims Of indemnity due to French citizens for
what the French Government, strongly backed
by French public opinion, considers wanton and
arbitrary spoliation and destruction OF their
property by the Venezuelan authorities. Sehor
Castro has vainly sought an opportunity to talk
nale ga mn he "a
ception Of the Venezuelan emissary has been
SO far by no means encouraging. and notwith-
standing Senior Castros anxiety to return home.
he will be Obliged to wait patiently until the
duties connected with the Cars visit shall have
provided leisure to consider this third effort
the part of Venezuela to resume the former
relations. Meanwhile, the attitude Of the French
Government Gas already cabled to The Tribune
on September d is that 1t cannot listen to any
proposal for the renewal Of diplomatic rela-
tions that does not embody full acknoWledg-
ment and offer of prompt payment of the claims
OF French citizens. Senor Cecilio Castro has
come here at an unlvcky moment, because
French diplomacy is aware that any hinching
or taking Of back water in this Venezuelan
business would be looked upon encourag-
ing precedent by Turkey, whose position in re-
gard to France since the withdrawal of their
respective ambassadors from Constantinople and
Paris is exactly similar to that of Venezuela.
Meanwhile, It is evident that the sympathy of
France in this whole South and Central Ameri-
can tmhroyIio is distinctly with Colombia, and
the present spasnodic effort Of Sehor Castro to
resume relations elicits the suspicion that at the
bottom of it all is an attempt to draw France
into assuming false position in regard to the
United States. and to try to seek here counter
poise to wise and timely mediation offered by