New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-08
COLOMBIA AND THE CANAL
OFFICIAL ASSURANCES FROM MINISTER
CONCHA
HIS GOVERNMENT WILL DO ALL IN ITS
POWER TO FACILITATE THE PRO-
POSED PANAMA SALE

William Nelson Cromwell of this CITY, general
counsel of the New Panama Canal Company.
has received the following letter from Senior
Concha, the newly appointed Colombian Minis
ter to the United States 1t is the first official
utterance of Senior Concha. and indicates the
attitude of Colombia on the canal question, and
the instructions under which the minister will
act:
Confirming the conferences which we have
held upon the subject of the relations between
the republic of Colombia, the United States of
America and the New Panama Canal Company
l beg leave TO state, in answer to your specific
inquiries, that the cable communication made
10 the Panama Canal Company by my govern
ment on the 18th utimo purely formal and
reminder of well known conditions and
not declaratory of opposition TO the pro-
posed transaction between the canal company
and the United States if made under the
serve OF an agreement between Colombia and
the United States. That incident has been
distorted by the enemies of the Panama Canal
route that take pleasure in confirming my as
surances TO you that the government of Colon
bia does not at all object to the sale and trans
fer as proposed by the canal company to the
United States, but, the contrary, my govern
ment approves of the steps taken by the canal
company, and will give all requisite consents
and do all in its power TO facilitate the matter
under the reserve referred to- Colombia well
comes the construction of the Panama Canal
within its domains by the United States, and
entertains for this government and its people
me Warmest spirit OF cordlallty in the COM
pleton of this. the greatest enterprise of mod
eIn inleS OGSUned TO nave a most Denencenl
and material influence in the development of the
interests of both nations.
This concurrence of Colombia in any sale by
the New Panama Canal Company to the gov
eminent Of the United States is with the
reservation, of course, that a mutually satisfac-
tory convention shall be agreed upon between
Colombia and the United States to their
respective rights and relations to the Panama
Canal, to be constructed by the United States,
and we have not the least doubt that such
agreement Will be reached.
Animated by this spirit and governed by these
views. ] have been empowered by my govern
ment to proceed with the pending negotiations
with this government, and as bring the most
recent instructions and views of my govern
ment, am happy to give assurance of our sin
cere desire TO conclude such negotiations
promptly and upon a reasonable basis 1 am
now developing and very soon shall definitely
submit TO this government the views and pro-
posals OF Colombia upon the subject, with the
design Of encouraging speedy and full con-
summation OF the purchase by the government
of the United States of all the rights cOnces-
sions and properties of the New Panama Canal
Company, and far permitted to transfer
TO a foreign government by the laws of Colon
bia. and the establishment between Colombia
and the United States of a definite and salts
factory convention upon an equitable and salts
factory basis.