New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-21
NICARAGUANS HOPE AGAIN
HITCH IN CANAL TREATY NEGOTIA-
TONS WITH COLOMBIA.
SECRETARY HAY INFORMS THE BoGoTA
GOVERNMENT THAT THIS COUNTRY Is
NOT FINALLY COMMITTED TO
THE PANAMA ROUTE
cBy The Associated Press1

CBy The Associated PressD
Washington, Nov. 20--The check in the
negotiations with Colombia relative to the Pan
ANA Canal has given great encouragement to
the friends Of the Nicaragua project and the
first evidence Of renewed activity on their part
was the appearance at the State Department to-
day Of Senior Ccrea. Nicaraguan Minister to
washington. Secretary Hay has never taken
the ground that the negotiations with Nicaragua
and Costa Rica were terminated by the passage
Of the Spooner act. On the contrary, he has felt
called upon to direct the attention of the Colon
bian Government. at moments when the negotia-
lions have Jagged or unseemly delay interviewed
10 the fact that under Section / of the Spooner
Get if he is unable obtain a satisfactory title
from the Panama Company and the control of
the necessary territory in Colombia by treaty
he is required to obtain such territory from
Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
The present hitch in the Colombian negotia-
tons has, therefore. encouraged the Nicaragua
contingent, and it IS said TO be probable
that 70 emphasize his repeated declaration that
the action OF Congress in the passage of the
spooner amendment did not finally commit the
United States TO the acceptance of the Panama
route Secretary Hay may proceed to draw up a
treaty with Nicaragua and Costa Rica on the
lines Of the protocols signed. and submit this
treaty 10 the Senate at its next session. together
with such a treaty with Colombia as he may be
able 10 conclude. In this way the Senate itself
might decide whether or not the Colombian
treaty is satisfactory, and if II should decide in
the negative, then it will have at hand the Mica
ragua-Costa Rican treaties, so that there will be
no excuse for delay in the canal project
As for the Colombian negotiations, it can be
said that the United States has now gone to the
practical end of the concessions it is willing 10
make 1t has received from Colombia a memo
randuul noting a number OF objections to its
proposed treaty. Some of these have been ad-
uitted TO be well taken, but the great majority
have been regarded as either in contradiction of
the terms Of the Spooner act or inadmissible for
other reasons. The Colombian Minister here has
been informed Of the decision reached, and is
expected to make further reply. either accept
ing or rejecting the last proposition.
The State Department does not regard the OBJ
jections raised by Colombia as material, while
the Colombians think that 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 easy of adjustment,
but il appears that the Colombians do not
see their way clear to accepting any of the COM
promise propositions on this point offered by the
United States. Prominent Senators who have
been consulted by the State Department have
indicated their strong opposition to the accept
ance Of lease for one hundred years with the
privilege OF renewal as sufficient to meet the
provisions Of the Spooner act. Nothing less
than perpetual control" as set forth in the
act, will satisfy them. The Colombians say that
would be a violation Of their constitution. But
e careful reading OF the Colombo constitution
by the officials here does not satisfy them that
there is any such provision against alienation
OF territory as is represented.