The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-01
A NEW TURN IN CANAL AFFAIRS
Legislation Held In Allegiance Pend
Ing Negotiations With Colombia.


After securing the silence of Mr.. Nor
gan and preventing him from opposing
| further the Spooner Philippine amend
ment To the Army bin. the Republican
| leaders of the Senate yesterday showed
that they We're acting in bad faith. The
committee ON Appropriations yesterday
afternoon refused to report the Morgan
amendment toithe Sundry Civil bill for
! the Nicaragua Canal. and the matter is
! dead for this Congress
| From official sources ii was learned
| that the opposition which Mr.. Morgan is
| meeting in his efforts to secure consid-
| Grafton of the Canal bill is due to some
| recent and important developments which
| promise to make the Nicaraguan route
! an impossibility. This is in reference to
Coiombias attitude and intentions re-
| garding the Panama Canal and the
United ST
Last week DIR. Carlos Martinez Silva.
| the new Colombian Minister, reached
Washington and on Thursday presented
| his credentials to the State Department.
At the same time DIR. Silva informed the
department that he was especially dele
1gated to negotiate with the United States
regarding the Panama Canal, with the
view of enabling the United States to Sc
[
the representations of Dr. Silva as to
what Colombia is willing to do with the
United States and as to what can be done
WIN the new Panama Canal Company
mas put the matter of an isthmian caual
in an entirely new light.
RMS information il was deemed advis-
able to communicate to several admins
tration Senator's and II is their opnasi-
ton to any legislation that will commit
inns Government to the Nicaragua propo-
sitlon before the Colombian and Panama
situation is thoroughly examined into,
that senator Morgan is now encountcring
Dr Silva was seen yesterday and asked
II 1t We're true that Colombia was ready
and willing to allow the United States to
acquire control of the territory through
winch the Panama Canal now iuns. The
Minister asked to be excused from dis
cussing the situation just now, rs he
intends TO issue a statement in a few
days, IL which he will Set forth CoIombia's
desires and intentions regarding the
canal In reply TO questions, however,
he said that from the time OF the appoint
ment OF the Isthmisn Canal Cerauigsioa,
TWO years ago, no request has been re-
ceived by his Government from the
United States In any way for information
as to what Colombia was willing to grant
in the way of concessions or territory
should the commission favor the Panama
route
This was considered by the Government
of Colombia as somewhat strange, in view
OF the fact that the commission was sup
posed to be making an impartial In, esti-
CATION Of all available routes for a canal
across the Isthmus. and as the State
Department was sounding the Govern
ments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica as
to what rights they would give the
United States
Colombia" the Minister said, lis pre-
pared to go as far as any other country
and perhaps little further in giving the
United States what ii desires in the way
of a route for canal" DR.. Silva in
timated that Colombia can also pave the
way for this Government tG acquire the
franchise and property of the new Pan
anna Canal Company.
Before COINS, mo 1etaiis. he said, he
desired to acausint the President and Sec
rotary Hay with what Colombia is will
ing IN 10 and what arrangements can be
made to secure the Panama property. This
will be done within ten days.
He insists that the right of way through
Colombia and the property OF the "ah-
anna COMPANY, can be secured to the Uni
tel States on satisfactory terms. He says
the Panama Canal is far superior to the
Nicaragua route, it being only one-qulr-
ter as long. can be finished several years
sooner, and will cost about s6o, 900 less
than the latter. according to the report
of the Isthmian Canal Commission Just
what negotiations DIR. Silva has carried
on with the Administration are not
known, but from the changed attitude
of several Senators toward immediate
canal legislation, it is apparent that canal
affairs nave taken a new and unexpected
turn.