The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-01
THE PANAMA. CANAL.
The Shareholders Think Il Best to Hold
Concessions for France.

The Shareholders Think It Best to Hold
Concessions for France.
Paris, February 2S.-At an extraordinary
meeting Of the shareholders of the new
| Panama Canal company today President 30
read a message from the consul general OF
! Colombia at Paris setting forth that tin.
. company could not transfer Its concession
to another nation without first obtaining
the assent Of Colombia modifying the slip,
ulatIons OF articles 81 aud 20 of the con.
| cessiou. After a discussion it was decided
that efforts should be made to keep tho
concession for France. The meeting adopt,
ed a resolution expressing approval OF ne
attitude Of the board Of directors ami de
Gliding In view Of the message Of the Co.
lom4la consul general to postpone entering
into any agreement
The dispatch OF the Colombian govern
meht was complete surprise to the share
holders OF the Panama Canal company, who
met this afternoon in expectation of merely
fatlIyluS the action OF the board OF dIrcc-
tors IN Offering the Panama Canal com
ptny's property to the United States for
SWUOu,uou, which offer WAS 10 remain open
until March t. 1903 and authorizing The
board TO carry out all the measures for the
transfer OF the property and fX and accept
all modes and terms or payment II the
United States accepted the offer. The con
stcrnation therefore was general when
President BO read CoOmbia's telegram and
a heated discussion broke out.
several speakers expressed the conviction
that II proper appeal Were made the money
to complete the canal could he obtained in
france. one OF the shareholders informed
the, meeting that he knew on undeniablc
authority that President lOubcC had taken
stepS to cndeayor 10 have the canal built
With French money. NJ. Marquis the Of
nClal representative Of the shareholders. re
minded his hearers that the remarks made
n-t
course was 10 adjourn until explanations OF
tolom0ia's action were Forthcoming The
meeting then adjourned.
The secretary of the company said after
adjournment that 1t wgs thought the Colon
hian and United states governments were
IN agreement regarding the cesson of the
concession.
Washington, February 2S-Admiral
Walker, when shown the cablcgram from
Paris regarding the action Of the Panama
Canal company, said he thought the news
was not such as TO Interfere seriously with
the purchase OF the canal property should
this government desire TO acquire 1t.
Washington, February 2s-Senator Nor,
gan, chairman Of the senate committee on
interocanic canals, is examining witnesseg
In connection with the NicaraEsa and Pan.
anna canal routes. he has heard all OF
the members of the isthmlan commission.
as we'll as 4 number Of economists and |
professional men. lie has arranged to OK. |
anime six or eight other mon, so that hear. |
lnsS VIII extend over the remainder OF this |
ana part OF next week 1t is likely that rho |
hlll VIII be reported the latter part Of The |
hlst week In March Senator Harris. one |
OF the members or this committee, said
mat he thought bin would be reported by
that time. ~
senator Morgan made Chairman Walker
lGmlt the other day that ne had no idsa
" no the men were who we're to receive
me $i9Oo0Ooo in payment OF the pr66
ely or the Panama Canal company Adj |
hlral walker said that that matter would
De determined by the French consul.