The sun., 1902-12-02
MINISTER CONCHA RETIRES.
NE LEAVES THE COLONRytN L.
CATION iOR rms CITY.
His Withdrawal Belic,c cd TO he IN Con.c.
Guence Of This Governments Com.
plaint ReEartiins IN, Al, erse Attitude
Toward the Panama tana, Tres,;

IN" Panama Canal treaty, ~ nor JOi y
toEcha, the Minister of Colombia. has with
drawn from Maehiugton to New York.
leaving Dr. Thonas Herman, the secretary
Of the Colomhia'. Legal !ori. ~ conduct the
Caral iogoiia'ioLs ll.is j. regarded rs in
oi'atug that a satisfactory ,coaty with
Colombia VIII be arranged, Minister Con-
CLa having been the chief obst ructionist
III the attempt Of the State Department to
attain that end
The only official Information which the
State Department Possesses on the subject
of :, mr. torcfa's removal from Wash
Tgton was conveyed to it this aiterr Don hy
DR.. Herrau. IL rotifed Acting Secretary
of State Hill tl.at ~ nor CurCha had gone
10 New York ard would remain there on
account OF tire coEuiticu If Lis health. which
10 believed would hc bel, f,cd hv his stay
in that city. ard for other reasons Of a
Personal character. DR. Iicrian said also
that he had locn designated as Charge
1>Baircs adj Interim of Colombia in the alb
scEcc of the MiLister, AID had hcen com
rissioncd by :, II u Concha 10 conduct the
oGral 7 gotatioi.s in his stead. Beyond this
ttr State Department Knows nothing.
1t Is believed thai Dr. Horian will be
appointed $ nor Concha's successor as
knowledge that it has been intended for
some tim" to promote him lie has been
stationed il Washing On .pr number Ci
wears, Is familiar with American inetilu-
tions. speaks Eng.sh huenIIN and Is on
excellent terms with Nh" state Department.
He ha- been informed of every NOV" IN the
caral negotial ions and knows the subjects
under discussion ~ Thoroughly that NO time
will be- los' in are sumption ui the ga "uanEcs
TO enabl, him 20 h"Coins acquainted with
the policy Of his Government or the att-
tude assumed by :, iJr Concha.
II il regarded as G, Ttain II. tministration
circles that ~ hDr Concha viii never return
10 Washington. His relations with the
state Department ar" such that unless
there should he radical change in his atti-
tude concerning the canal treaty, II would
be impossible for the Department to treat
with him further.
S.hor Concha came here early this year
and was formally presented TO President
Roosevelt on March IL He had been Min
lister OF Foreign Affairs of Colombia and
was sent to Washington for the specific
purpose Of negotiating Panama Canal
treaty. After Congress authorized the con-
struction of the Panama Canal, ~ no. Con-
cha entered into negotiations with Secretary
Hay for a treaty. but these were suspended
in order to enable him to ascertain more
fully the views Of his Government, Upon
the return of Secretary Hay to Washington
in October, after an absence oi several
months, he endeavored to renew the ne
gotiations with Sefior Concha, but was in
formed that the instructions which the
Minister was expecting had not arrived.
Recently Mr.. Hay ascertained that ~ nor
Concha had the instruct ions in his posses
sion and it was attempted, but without
aiccess, TO induce him TO reopen the nego-
tiations
After ,ome further waiting. Mr.. Hay
cent in ,uctions TO Mr.. Hart, the United
States Minister az Bogota, to complain 10
the Colombian Government of Sehor
eha'a A. nd ts.a Snar in hN h..
exchanges had not been resumed. The
outcome Of this was the prompt appear
anoe at the State Department of Schor
Concha Good Roadway was made toward
an agreement. but MIR Hay ana Senior
Concha came TO a deadlock over the terms
to be Incorporated in tho treaty giving
the United States control of the canal
strip Mr. HAY desired a provision which
would carry out tho Spooner amendment
to the L. ''nian Canal act, providing for
conplete control over the canal strip by
the United States. Sehor Concha, it is
said, declined 10 give any consideration
to this subject vhotever, on the ground
that the Colombian Constitution forbade
the alienation Of any territory Of that
couutrv. He would not continue tho ne
go,iations, although Mr. Hay endeavorcd to
have him do so, and in Consequence Mr.. Hay
srnt a telegram To Minister Hart at Bo-
gotta, di-"c'ias him to lay before tho
Colombian Government a statement of
Sehor Conchas attitude. This telegram
was sont early last week. II is signif-
cant that almost Immediately thereafter
.ssnor Concha loft Wa,hugl on and went
80 New YORK where he l. supposed to be
now
s.nor Concha has ,wicc rendered rs
resignation a. Colombian Minister in Wash
ngtOn. In each instance hc gave as his
reasons, according 10 statements made
"A, tho Colombian legation, that his health
VA, poor aud he did not like the separation
from his family in Colombia. The tolom-
T., Is.,. l,,,..l
tender in each instance. The second
tender was n aGe a. the time when Secretary
Hay complained of tho Minister'S refusal
TO carry out the instructions 10 negotiate
canai treaty.
S.h5r Concha informed the State De-
partner mt that he was invested with plenary
powers in the negotiltions and that II was
not necessary for him T. refer any dispute
TO the authorities in Bogota Ii is sup
posed that Dr. Hcrran will not be invested
with any such supreme powers. He is
said to be in favor Of the construction
of the Panama Canal by the United States,
while Seh,r Concha appar' ntly vas not,
DR.. Herran told Sun reporter tonight
that be had received Instructions from
his Government 10 conduct the canal treaty
negotiations and that they would be re-
opened Immediately.
II Il understood that DIR. Fcrran does not
share the view Of Minister Concha that the
question of a transtercncc of sovereignty
by Colombia to the United states is inN Nolved
in the negotiation. Instead, DR.. Iierran
interprets the provision OF the Spooner
amendment relating TO absolute control Of
the canal strip by this Government as mean
ing merely that 1.-The United States are TO
exercise such authority on the Is'hmus as
will enable them al all times I" project the
canal in satisfactory manner. With this
understanding of his views IL Is regarded
as practically certain that satisfactory
treaty will bc arranged within very short
period, probably before Congress adjourns
for the Christmas holidays.
Schor Concha has been NJ the Hotel Endi-
colt IN this city since Friday. He refused
10 sec reporters who called there last night
ond sent word from his room that he had
rothing whatever to say about his resigna-
ton He received several visitors.