The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-27
CANAL NEGOTIATIONS NOT OFF.
THIS GOVERNMENT REVIEWS
THEN AT DOGOTA.
Our Minister TO Colombia Directed 10
Bring 10 That Gov ernmcnt's Attention
the Proposals Made by the United
states which Senior COncha Rejected.

VuusNt SVsof hsVyS'tSo'
WAsHINGToN, Nov. 20. while the Gov
eminent Is seriously concerned over the
precarous condition of the Panama Canal
negotiations, 1t has not by any means given
up hope that satisfactory agreement,
which will make the construction OF the
canal possible, will be reached with Colon
bia. The first step In the direction OF re-
newing the negot iations has already been
taken by the State Department In sending
instructions to Charles r. Hart, the United
States Minister TO Bogota. TO bring to the
attention OF the Colombian national au-
thorities the proposals made by this Gov
eminent which were rejected by Senior.
| Concha, the Colombian Minister in Wash
ington.
Senior Concha, in declining to offer any
concessions to the United States on the
proposal that complete control over the
| canal strip. az directed by the Spooner
amendment to the Isthman Canal act. be
| given this Government. has declared that he
| Ia vested with absolute authority in the
| negotiations and that il Is not necessary
| for him to refer any questions Of disagree
ment to the Foreign Office az Bogota.
In directing Mr.. Hart to bring the points
at issue directly to the attention Of the
Government Of Colombia, the Washing on
Administration has, for a second time. Writ
ually gone over the head OF the Colombian
representative here. The first occasion
was several weeks ago, when the State
Department, having ascertained that Senior
Concha had had in his possession for long
time instructions from his superior officer
in Bogota to enter into negotiation for a
canal treaty with the United States. and
having been unable to induce him to carry
out these instructions, directed Mr. Hart
to ask the Colombian Government why
the negotiations had come to a s;andstill
The result OF this action was to bring MIR
Concha promptly to the State Department
with request that exchanges on the sub
Ject of treaty be resumed
Within a very short period all the essential
terms Of the convention. with one e1cep-
ton, were arranged. This exception was
the matter Of the United States obtaining
complete control over the canal strip.
Senior Concha insisted that the constitu-
ton Of his country forbade any alienation
| Of Colombian territory. either direct or
| indirect, and declined to make any con-
| SESSIONS whatsoever This was the statu
| Of the negotiations which Secretary Hay
explained to the President and the Cabinet
| yesterday. IL Is inferred that the instruc-
tons to Minister Hart to take up the matter
| directly with the Colombian authorities
at Bogota were the outcome OF the dis
cussion at the Cabinet meeting
The idea that Colombia would attempt
| to sell the canal right of way to any private
syndicate or to any other Government
| than the United States does not appear to
be serious enough to muster any believers
| among the more pomnent members of
| the Administration; yet II is feet that this
| idea has been advanced, and is shared by
some OF the officers who are familiar with
the whole course Of the negotiations. The
| attitude OF Sehor Concha has convinced
the Administration that he is opposed to
any canal treaty at this time, and IT is the
opinion in Government circles that the OBJ
ject of this course is TO delay action until
Colombia has obtained possession through
forfeiture Of the franchise granted to the
New Panama Canal Company with the
hope of obtaining more money for the con-
cessions. Whether the Colombian Govern
ment shares the purpose attributed to
Minister Concha is not known to the Ad-
ministration.
| One OF the reasons for the insurrect ion
against the Colombian Government which
was declared ended last week was ob jec-
ton to the act ion Of the Government in
extending the life Of the New Panama
Canal Company's franchise from 1904
when il would otherwise have expired
until 1910 The Colombian Government
Is anxious TO conciliate the former rebels
and II IL maintained here that il is reasol,
able 10 suppose that the authorities Of the
Republic will be willing TO concede tbs
cancellation of the extension in order t.
ain peace in the country.
Meanwhile, the Informal negot in, ion,
between the State Depar, ment and III,
Ministers Of Nicaragua and Costa Rc;
for a treaty providing for tho const rue, ior
Of n canal over the Nicaragua route ar.
going on. but there is no prospcct Of an,
definite result until after the Aimnis'ra
ton has adopted every reasonable course
and even gone 10 extremes, TO bring Co
lombia TO the terms which this, Govern
rnart