Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-03
Walker Commissions Reasons
Recommending Panama Route

ANA Canal Company now has, but 1t
would not be sufficient. me existing
concessions thus purchased would be
valuable only because their ownership
by the United States wou.I remove
the obstacles in the way of negotia.
lions between the two governments for
the occupation of Colombian territory
by the United Sta,es for canal pur.
poses: but these concessions are UNI
satisfactory and insufficient and a new
ARRANGEMENT must be made If an 18TH
milan canal is to be constructed by our
Government across the isthmus of
Panama.
The grant must not be for term OF
years. but in perpetuity and strip of
territory from ocean to ocean of sum.
cient width must be placed under the
control of the United States. Upon
this strip the United States must have
the right to enforce police regulations,
preserve order, protect property rights
and exercise such other powers as are
appropriate and necessary. The bust.
ness relations between the United
States and the canal company and the
Colombian Government must also be
settled and the consideration to be
paid by the United states for the priv
ileges and rights to be exercised in the
future must be agreed upon free from
all embarrassment with reference to
past transactions.
The Commission has no power to en-
ter upon negotiations for the arrange
ment of these matters, they belong to
the treaty.maling power, but the &C.
ceptance of the terms offered by the
new Panama Canal Company seem to
be conditioned upon their satisfactory
adjustment.
The advantages OF the two canal
. routes have been restated according
to the findings of the former report.
There has been no change in the views
of the Commission with reference to
any of the conclusions then reached.
but the new proposition submitted by
the new Panama Canal Company
makes a reduction of nearly $4,000.
600 in the cost of canal across the
, Isthmus of Panama, according to the
} estimates contained in the former re-
port.
There Is, however, one important
matter which canno, enter into its de-
| termination, but which may in the end
4 control the action of the United States,
!. The reference is made to the DISPOSE.
Y ton of the Government whose terri
;. tory is necessary for the construction
v and operation of an isthmian canal. 1t
Q must be assumed by the Commission
v that Colombia would exercise the same
fairness and liberality If the Panama
route is determined on that have been
!. expressed by Nicaragua anu Costa Ri
a ca should the Nicaragua route be pre-
!, ferred.
The report concludes as follows:
|. After considering the changed condi'
q lions that now exist, and that all facts
= and circumstances upon which its
a present judgment must be based, the
:, Commission is of the opinion that the
most practical and feasible route fol
. an isthman canal. to ne under the
;, control, management and ownership
;. of the United States, is that known
:, as the Panama route"
=" The report is signed by the entire
:, Commission.
=, The State Department will now pro
- coed to arrange protocol with Mr.
. Silva, engaging Colombia to approve
. the transfer of the franchise OF the
. Panama Company and to make any Ge
= sirable extensions of time allowance
- for the completion of the canal and IL
= the life of the lease.