The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-12
BANKS OF PANAMA CANAL
POLICE AND SANITARY CONTROL OF
TERRITORY 4 DELICATE POINT.
Development of Negotiations Must Go
Forward Carefully to Avoid Of
Tending the ColOmbians.

WASHINGTON. July I.-With the ex-
pectation of signing the treaty by which
Colombia will confer all the necessary
rights incident to the building of the Pan
anna canal by the United States govern
ment, Senior Concha, the Colombian min
ister Mr. Herraan, first secretary of lega-
tion and William Nelson Cromwell, repre-
Senting the Panama Canal and other COM
panies. are engaged in going over certain
points in the treaty which must be modi-
fed before the instrument can be signed.
Neither the State Department nor the Co
lombian officials here care to disclose the
nature of the notifications. but il is under
stood that all of them, either directly or
indirectly, involve the question of sover-
eighty. The close study now in progress of
the isthmian canal act and the treaty pre-
scented by the Colombian government de-
velops apparently important difficulties ana
obscurities in the letter Of the documents
For instance, Section authorizes the Pres
dent to secure from Colombia perpetual
control of strip of land which
control shall include jurisdiction
over said strip and the ports at the ends
thereof, to make such police and sanitary
rules and regulations as shall be necessary
TO preserve order and TO preserve the pub
! lie health thereon, and TO establish such
judicial tribunals a. may be agreed upon
! thereon or as may be necessary TO enforce
/ such rules and regulations"
! From this portion OF the act it would APP
pear that the United States alone is to
make police and sanitary regulations for
the strip and to establish judicial tribunals
tI,a;t. for Xaf Of ha
| draft of the canal treaty provides for the
! creation OF "a joint commission by the
/ governments of Colombia and the United
/ States that shall establish and enforce san
/ itary and police regulations" Article of
| the treaty deals specifically with the ques-
/ ton OF sovereignty. as follows: THE rights
and privileges granted to the United States
! by the terms of this convention shall not
/ affect the sovereignty Of the republic OF
| Colombia over the territory within whose
! boundaries such rights and privileges are
| TO be exercised The United States freely
! acknowledges and recognizes this sover-
! eighty and disavOws any intention TO inn
! pair il in any way whatever or TO increase
! its territory at the expense of Colombia
or of any of the sister republics I'm Central
OF South America but. Oh the contrary
| il desires TO strengthen the power OF the
| republics on this continent and then pro
and independence.
In summing up. il appears To be the task
| now before the parties 10 the proposed
I convention TO define with absolute clarity
1 the extent and limits of the control or Joint
/ control 10 DC exercised over the canal strip
/ For, while control is not sovereignty In
the common acceptance Of the terms, yet in
/ practice the two often merge as 10 defy
identification, ana il has all along beer
I recognized that any provision Of the treaty
which threatens in any measure the SOVer.
I eighty OF the South American republic over
the canal land will not be acceptable 10 the
Colombian Congress.
Minister COncha has oeen in poor healtl
during the spring and summer and con
I templates a jUrney out of town 10 recuper
/ ate. MIR Cromwell called this afternoon Al
the State Department TO confer with Sec
rotary Hay. Ii is thought the treaty can
not he signed before next fall Minister
Concha. il was thought. would adjust tn,
points of difference indicated. but il devel
ops that To prevent any disa greement Will
his own government and consequent re
pudiation OF what he has accomplished tn,
minister deems II essential that il shall b,
made acquainted with the smallest details
of the negotiations. This necesstates re
/ course 10 the mails. and : about weeks
time is consumed In each dispatch passin;
/ between Washington and BogOta IL * eX
pected that the finishing touches cannot b
I given 10 the treaty this summer.