The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-04
DOES ,roRG1N REJoIcE.

The notice which the Colombian
/ government has given the Panama
B Canal Company that the canal pro-
perty cannot be sold without its con-
sent must be a source of satisfaction
to Senator Morgan, who has contend
ed ever since the Isthmian Canal
commission made its supplementary
report favoring the Panama route
that the Panama company could not
give a good title to it's property. and
that to consider the question of pur-
chasing that property would have on
ly one result, named, to delay. if not
prevent, the building of any canal
across the isthmus.
1t seems that the Panama Canal
Company was not dealing frankly with
the United States 1t stated. accord
ing to the accounts which have APP
peared in the public prints, that Il
could give a good title to it's property.
1t appears from recent developments.
however. that before IT entered into
negotiations with the United States ie
had been informed by the Colombian
government that it would not be per.
mitted to transfer its canal property
without that governments consent. 1t
seems rather strange that, notwith-
standing this notification, II went on
with the negotiations without even
limiting to the United States that the
Colombian government had interposed
an objection to the sale.
The offer which the Panama Canal
Company had made to the United
States was to hold good until march 4.
Last Friday the shareholders of the
Panama company met in Paris to ap-
prove the offer. At that meeting, the
Consul General of the Colombian
government in Paris had a notice of
the attitude of his government pre-
scented. This notice seems to have
been the first that the shareholders
had received that the disposal of their
property depended upon the consent
of the Colombian government The
companys officers had not kept them
informed. They were not only sur
prised, but indignant, and some of
them expressed the opinion that the
United States were trying to black
mail them out of their property.
though what the United States had
to do with the action taken by the
Colombian government was not ap-
parent
AS matter of fact the United
~ II A.
Company to accept $4,000 900 for it's
property. The company voluntarily Of
fered TO accept that amount, and it
is by no means certain that the United
States viii consent to give that sum.
1t is probable that Colombia has no
intention to prevent the sale of the
Panama canal property to the United
States. It's purpose is, doubtless. to
drive some sort of a bargain by which
it will get a share of the $40, 900, 900. or
get several millions of dollars from
the United States. It's government, is
bankrupt, and a few millions of dol
lars would be of q great assistance to
it at this time. 1t cain be stated. how
ever, that the United States will not
pay Colombia anything for the privi-
lege of purchasing the Panama
Canal Company's property. If that
company wants to give Colombia
part Of the $4O,OOO.O 900. in the event
that sale of the canal property is
made, the United States would not OBJ
ject. That is a matter between the
Panama Canal Company and Colon
bia
1t would not be surprising if this
rev complication should have the eff
feet of turning attention in this coun-
try more strongly than ever to the
Nicaragua route. Senator Morgan.
who is a sincere friend of an isthmian
canal, has always contended and still
contends, that the canal must be built
upon that route if we are to have a
canal at all.