Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-27

Theories ha TO cause III lEohoe-A"e
Motion OF The Canal Commission.
From our special correspondent
Washington, d c, Aug 2l-Ihe
world vide interest taken in tire
revolutionary troubles in Venezuela
and especially 10 Colombia, has mace
eyideut that the official opinion every
where is tnat more is involved than
j. the cas-, IN the usual South Ameri-
can revolution. Europe seems to
believe that Uncle Sam has fomented
the trouble in Greer to get ar excuse
to intervene and SEIZE territory down
there; Uncle Sam fears That he Will
be compelled to interfere before 1T IS
really necessary in order to keep soroe
European power from gaming toot'
hold there of which it will not ne
easy 10 disCossess it, come people say
that asphalt iutrigues are behind the
trouble, the strife having been delhi
crately fumented by one or tho other
of tho tro big companies; and finally,
still another party believes that the
Pauama canal company is IN some way
responsible for the trouble, hoping III
some way to gain an advantage Tor lie
route rather than that by way OF
Nicaragua.
1t is certain that the canal cuts a
large figure 10 the deliberations of all
the countries over The matter. Nee
essarily it must do so. Until the
location Of the canal is an accom-
plishei fact. At present, it is by 20
means ceratin that the lsthmlan
Commission will net recommend the
purchase CT the Panama concession
from the Frccch company and the
completion of the caual by that route,
1t has been been generally supposed
thAt the report of the Canal commis
sion WAS held back awaiting delayei
| engineering data. Tnerc Is good
ground for believing that the delay
has been for diplomatic reasons, 1t
being deemed desirable to allow the
uncertainty as to the choice OF routes
! to continue as long as possible OH
account OF the effect the decision may
have upon the Genital American
governments directly Interested.
The value OF the work already done
| by the Panama company Is FUZZY
appreciated by the Canal commission
ard bs the administration. The care
full surveys of both routes and the
pains taking estimates that nave
been made, have enabled the commits
sion to calculate closely the difference
between the cost of completing toe
| Panama canal aud the cost OF CON
etructirg a canal 10y way Of Nicaragua.
The difference i largely in favor Of
the Panama route, provided that the
canal can be purchased cheaply
enough say for fort, million dollars.
Toe practical question is whether the
French company will be willing to
sell cut on these terms: thus far no
proposition that is entirely satlefac-
tory has been made by it.
As long as matters are IN tins
condition, it is obvious that the
United States cannot let ANYTHING 20
by cefault nor does it intend to do so.
! France, which IS interested IN the
situation because of the Panama canal
company. has sent to Colon the
cruiser Suchet Germany has ordered
| the cruiser Vineta to Trinidad, where
she can be ready TO act, AMI is prepar-
ing to send other vessels. Great
| Britain is alternately scanning tie
! Clayton Rulwer treaty ard watching
affairs on the isthmus. Altogether.
the situation is ticklis'l and requires
careful handling. L NJ,