The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-16
A Defective Title.

A Paris cable indicates that some de-
fects of a serious nature have been found
in the title of the Panama Canal company
as the neglect of the Colombian govern
ment to approve the extension of the
original concessions six years from 1898,
and it Is necessary that both congress and
the president shall approve. The insur-
gents have warned the canal company
that they will, if victorious, repudiate the
last extension of the concessions. e..
This matter was brought up last winter
during the discussion Of the canal COM
pany's title. The Colombian minister at
Washington last March issued state
ment in which he said that the charges of
defective title were made by enemies,
for the purpose Of obstructing the negotia-
tions, and said: Even supposing for the
sake Of argument, only, the last extension
granted by the Colombian government for
the further term of six years to be open
for question, the term referred to would
expire in 1904, instead Of 1910, but until
that date G90D, at any rate, the new
Panama Canal company may dispose of it's
present unquestionable rights, leaving to
the purchaser (he United States) the
duty Of obtaining an extension of the con-
cession which the government Of Colombia
undoubtedly can give, with the approba-
ton of its congress also, by the grant of
new concession to the United States
and set at rest any question whatever
concerning the previous concession.'
This statement is sufficiently explicit to
quiet any fears about the title. Nothing
of defect seems to have been discovered
in the title received by the present cansd
company from the old De Lesseps concern.
Tho isthmian commission made a pretty
thorough investigation into the records Of
the two Panama companies and was con-
vinced that the title was unclouded. The
law department Of our government has
been for some time making an examina-
ton of the records at Paris. and Attorney
General Knox has himself gone to Paris
to complete the investigation, so, when it
is completed, there will have been done
pretty clean work In the matter. ~
The threat of the insurgent leaders
might amount to something. if they were
in better shape to get control, but they
are now apparently in rather demoral-
lied condition afield, and the government
seems able to put enough men where they
are needed to make the situation very
gloomy for them.
What is to be feared most is the
adherence Of the Colombian government
to it's present position Of opposition I'd the
perpetual control Of the canal strip by
our government, control which we de-
mand and should surely have, for any
tenure less than perpetual would be in
jeopardy from the unruly spirits which
control the Spanish-American republics.
If perpetual control is assured to our gov
ernment there will be no further delay in
beginning the work on the canal. If the
title is not found to be valid the Spooner
amendment authorizes the construction OF
a. cana, along the Nicaragua route. but
Nicaragua has heretofore expressed the
same objections Colombia has to parting
with al ?, portion Of her sovereignty, and
there may be delay there. 1
AS to the internecine struggle in Colon
bia, it would appear that the clerical OF
| conservative party now in control, and
| which has been in control since Nunez
overthrow the liberal constitution in 1886
is strong enough to hold It's control and
to remain the sovereign power in Colon
! b,a with whom our government must
treat.
Tho insTrpe1,tu xu111 pr1,asI- their teeth