The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-26

proposed sale. w." ~
The opinion closes a. follows: For the
reasons ! have given. l am Of opinion that
me United states would receive q good
valid. and unenc,unbered title
10 the opinion are annexed 80 printed
pages OF exhibits In support Of its state
ments Also the responses by the French
ana American counsel Of the New Panama
,ahsi company 10 the objections formi-
iatcd ny the Acknowledgement, and which
Ind been considered by him Independently
No steps have been taken a. vet. said
an Official OF tho Colombian Legation this
evening, toward the negotiation Of formal
treaty bet the United States and Co.
iolnbia In the discussions aud conference +
incident upon the arrangement Of the prot o.
COZ ana the adjust ment Of the changes
nlade necessary IN that document by the
supseGucht passage of h. Spooner amend
nlent some OF the provisions Of which diff
ierd from the terms Of the protocol. the
representatives Of the two government
upon whom the work of ncgo, iati ing the con-
vention falls, have come to know lust ahou,
what the formal treaty must contain. But
ho'hihS has az yet been done toward putting
on paper The formal poyisions Of the treaty
winch viii give to the United States lease
IN perpetuity Of the strip of land across he
Isl minus OF Panama necessary for the con-
s'rnclOa ~ the giant waterway
ms statement IL directly contrary 10 the
belief that las existed for some time in
Government circles here. While no posi-
i've continuation can now he obtained on
the subject, il has been Understood that
negotiations for the formal treaty ha We
been IN progress for several months. and
that there had lccn considerable irritation
shown by the officials here over the slow
ness with which the Colombian Govern
ment va. proceeding. Furthermore. as
surances have been given that the report Of
Vel nm In al a
the canal companys title would not be
made pub lie until the treaty with Colombia
had actually been completed. signed and
delivered. Whether the publication Of the
report to-day can, in view Of those assur-
ances, Tee taken as an indication that the
ncgot ia'ions, unbeknown 10 the Colombian
legation here, have been brought to a sue
Cessful close or have bean temporarily
abandoned owing 10 conditions existing
on the lsthnllis. L. n matter Of speculation
here
The officials Of the Colombian legation
tonight expressed satisfaction. but no
surprise. when the contents of the At
tOrncy- Generals report was made public.
as they had anticipated that his report
would bc favorable Ia the Panama canal.
But, d">pt" the apparent removal of the
last obstacle To tho negotiation of n treat v
between tn" United States and Colombia
for the construction 81 the canal. the legs-
tlOn officials take very ps.ssmistic view
uf the situation. Indeed from what wa
learned Al the legation. il appears a. if
the prospects for the construction of the
canal are less bright now than at any time
since the passage Of the Spooner amend
mont To tho Canal bill The reason for
this, they say, IL obvious.
The action Of TIA" United States naval
officers in command Of the American forces
in ISL an waters during the recent po-
lltlCal trouble IN Colombia IN landing ma
rines and assuming control OF AFFAIRS in
the disturbed section j. considered by the
majority Of the Colombian people 10 have
been ill-advi-ed and uncalled for, and the
sentiment l. said 10 be so strong a probably
10 seriously retard the negotiations OF n
treaty looking TO the requirement Of Colom-
bian territory. in lease or otherwise, by the
United States. This sentiment may be-
come tempered bv time the legation officials
say. or Yield to the influence of future de-
veloplnents, but Just now it il such as 70
cause anxiety TO those Interested in the
negotiations Of the treaty.