The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-21
ROUTE FOR A CANAL.
Supporters Of the Nicaragua Plans
Have New Hopes.
COLOMBIA NOT SATISFIED.
The Trouble Over the Panama Route
May Change Plans.
TREATY WILL BE LONG DELAYED,
The Option on the Panama Route VIII
Expire on March 1.
NO MORE CONCESSIONS TO BE MADE
The United States Has Gone as Far as
Possible in Favorino Colombia
and VIII Now Stop.
10 MORE CONCESSIONS TO BE MADE
The United States Has Gone as Far as
Possible in Favorina Colombia
and viii Now Stop.
Especial to The Post.)


Washington, November 2o,--senor corea.
the Nicaraguan minister, called at the de-
partment OF state today 10 discuss the
isthmion canal matter and. as a result
those who have ali along believed that
there is some hope OF having the Nicara-
guam route selected have piucked mp cour
nge and are preparing 70 make a hard nsht
during the forthcoming short session. Those
who have been keeping up with recent de-
velopments In the canal negotiations are
now expressing the opinion that the en-
tire subject Of the building of canal
viii be brought before congress- again this
winter The only thing that can prevent
this viii be an early adjustment Of the
present trouble with Colombia and the
ratification OF the treaty giving the United
States the necessary concessions
The Colombian congress has not been in
session for four years and there Is little
prospect that tho treaty In question: can be
gotten through before March 3, 1908, when
the Eifty-seventh congress will come TO an
end. II II is not gotten through before
that date, another complication will be
brought up by the fact that the option
given the United States by the French
company on its Panama property expires
March T. This, however, could probably
be adjusted as II is not thought the French
people would refuse to extend the CD
tion.
The fear that under the law passed ht
the last session the appropriation for the
purchase OF the canal must be covered back
into the treasury Mt the end Of the pres
ent congress should none Of II have been
expended by that time IN another thina
that 10 causing apprehension among the
friends Of the Panama plan. On the whole,
the advocates Of the NicaraguRn route be
lleve their case is not hopeless by any
means and that they may yet win the
night
Secretary Hay has never taken the
ground TINT negotiations with Nicaragua
and Costa Ricn were terminated by the
passage Of the Spooner act. On the con-
trary. he has felt called on to direct the
attention Of the Columbian government at
moments when the negotiations have Jagged
and unseemly delay interviewed, TO the fact
that under section OF the Spooner act.
n he s unable TO obtain n satisfactory
title from the Panama company and the
control OF the necessary territory In Colon
hia by treaty then he is requested to OBJ
tain such from Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
As for the Colombian negotiations, It can
be stated that the United States has gone
10 the practical end Of concessions It is
willing to make. II has received from
Colombia n memorandum noting a number
OF objections to it's proposed treaty. Some
OF these have been admitted TO be well
taken, but the great majority have been
regarded as rather in contradiction OF the
terms Of tho Spooner act or iuadmissible
for other reasons. The Colombian minister
here has been notified OF the decision
reached and Is expected to make further
reply, either accepting or rejecting our
last proposition The state department
does not regard objections lodged by Co
Iombia as material; the Colomhians on
their part think they are vital. Such, for
instance is the difference over the tenure
Of the United States IN the canal strip.
This has been alluded to before as ona
easy Of adjustment, but II now appears
that the Colombians do not see their way
10 accepting any OF the compromising
propositions offered by the United States
Prominent senator's who have been con-
suited by the state department have indi-
Gated their strong opposition to accept
nnce Of a iOO-year lease with a provision
for renewal as sufficient 70 meet the pro
visions Of the spooner act. Nothing less
than perpetual control" as set down in
the act, will satisfy them. The Colon
bians say that will be a violation OF their
constitution. But careful reading OF that
constitution does not satisfy the officials
that there is any such prohibition against
alienation Of territory.