Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
Opening Negotiations With
Colombia.
CANALS RIGHT OF WAY
SECRETARY HAY AND MIR. GROIN
WELL CONFER.
Recent Decision Of a French Court Of
1mportance-The Attorney Gen.
erals Trip.

Final negotiations for the conclusion of
the deinitive treaty between the United
States and Colombia, which Is to authorize
the construction Of the Panama Canal, be-
gan at the State Department today at a
meeting between Secretary Hay and Mr.
Cromwell, representing the Panama Canal
Company. and the Colombian legation here.
At the same time. in order that the settle
ment of the legal questions connected with
the transfer of the canal company's prop
erty to the government of the United States
may run on concurrently with the dipio-
matte settlements between the United States
and Colombia, Mr.. Cromwell, at Secretary
Hays instance. laid before Attorney Gem
eral Knox all the papers in his possession
calculated to assist the Attorney General
in his work in settling the title.
French Courts Recent Decision.
Among other things. Mr. Cromwell had a
long report by cable of the facts connected
with the suit recently determined in the
highest court adversely to some of the in
terests of the old canal company and In
favor of the new company. AS set out In
Mr.. Cromwelrs dispatches 1t appeared that
a security holder of the old Panama COM
pany sought to have the court recognize
interests Of the old stockholders in the
new concern. It was held by the courts
that the French assembly, by the act of 1893,
had specifically vested all authority in the
new company, and in 1894 the title Of the
new company to the property of the old
company was confirmed by the action Of
the liuuidator Of the latter.
The action Of the stakeholder referred to-
being recognized by the canal company as
an initial attempt to prevent the proposed
transfer to the United States the company
DrOmnt1v made the issue in q in
the tribunal of the Seine with the purpose
of having that court at once and for all
settle that matter beyond reopening. So
the company applied for what might he
termed as a writ of annulment. which is
something in the nature of writ of injunc-
ton. and Is a motion calculated to open up
the merits Of the case. The result was the
decision by the court, already briefly re-
ported by the cable dispatches, adjudging
the objection of the stakeholder unwar-
ranted and granting a decree of annulment
against the creditor; sustaining the action
Of the company and sentencing the creditor
to pay damages flor his mischievous and
unwarranted proceeding"
Importance Of the Decision.
Mr.. Cromwell held that this decision was
OF the first order Of Importance and went
very far toward completely settling all
doubt as to the right of the new canal
company to transfer title to the United
States. Therefore, it has very much SIM
plified the work which Attorney General
Knox Is expected to carry on in France
At the State Department, after confer
ring verbally with Mr.. Cromwell, Secretary
Hay turned over to him mass OF papers.
which the counsel examined very carefully
consuming more than an hour in the opera
ton. While definite conclusion was not
reac hed at this mornings meeting as a re-
suit OF this. 1t Is stated that distinct ad-
vance made toward the end. Some
COrrpSpOOdaNcp no "a wi ba
lombian government but this can be done
by cable. and it is believed that the treaty
can be signed within week. no importa Mt
or insurmountable difficulties having arisen
50 far.
Advices From Colombia.
Mr.. Concha. the Colombian minister here,
has received advices from the government,
which Mr.. Cromwell transmitted to the
State Department, to the effect that the
Colombian government has decided to APP
point non-partisan commission to re-
| arrange the electoral and provincial dis
tricts OF Colombia, and it was believed
that the way being clear for new elections
the congress could be elected and assem-
bled within the next four months and the
| body could proceed at once to ratify the
canal treaty, which is to be concluded here.
| 1t is inferred from that statement that an
arrangement has been reached between the
Colombian conservatives and liberals which
will terminate the revolution which has
now lasted for more than two years. for
one of the principal demands Of the revolu-
tionists was that the older districts should
be broken up, as they had been so gerry
wandered" as to make 1t impossible for the
liberals to secure anything like fair rep
resentatfon in the government. The con-
clusion Of hostilities on the isthmus Is In
itself an important help to canal construc-
ton, as the disturbed conditions which have
prevailed there would interfere seriously
with the procurement and retention OF the
labor supply necessary for the completion
of the great enterprise
The Attorney Generals Trip.
1t IS understood at the Department Of
Justice that Attorney General Knox will
sail from this country about the LIST of Au-
gust for Paris for the purpose OF investi-
eating the title and legal facts connected
with the Panama Canal Company. Mr..
Knox is now at Atlantic City for vaca-
ton, and will remain there until the end
of this month By that time he will have
made arrangements for his trip and decided
who will accompany him.
/ The suggestion has been made that the
Attorney General take Senator Spooner Of
Wisconsin with him, because of the interest
that the Wisconsin senator has taken in
the canal matter and because Of his extern
sive legal abilities. The suggestion is re-
garded a good one. but it Is stated that
the Attorney General has arrived at no
conclusion in the matter.
Charles W. Russell, special assistant at
torney general Of the Department of JUS
tice will go with Mr.. Knox, and will aid
him In the Investigations.