The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-26
EXTENSION OF
TIME LIMIT
STATEMENT THAT 1T WAS IL
LEGALLY OBTAINED.

LEGALLY OBTAINED.
If the Utterances of General Uribe
Uribe, Leader of the Liberal Party
in Colombia, Is Correct Then the
French Company's Concessions will
Run Only Two Years Longer.
Facts and Figures Upon Which the
Statement of the General Is Made.
Want Us to Wait.
General Tribe Tribe, the leader of the
Liberal party of Colombia, and the fore
most man of his times in South Amer
lea, has issued the declaration which
appears below and which is of excep-
tional interest to Americans in view Of
Panama canal negotiations now pend
ing. The declaration is translated from
the Spanish and given to the press Of
the United States by Raul Perez, Of
this city, who has long acted as secre-
tary for General Tribe and is prom-
nent official of the Liberals. Mr.. Perez
and has suffered confiscation of his es-
tates, imprisonment and many perse-
cutions at the hands of the govern
ment now in power. He Is linguist
of remarkable versatility. and is at
present preparing a portion of the
Spanish course for the International
Correspondence schools.
With regard to General Tribes dec
law Inn, eI,@ Il t,n +
the extension of time to which refer
ence is made was given by a former
president of the republic, DR.. Sancle-
mente. with no authority outside of
that which he had arrogated to him
self. No congress has been in session
in Colombia since 1898. therefore no
legality attaches to the extension OF
time thus granted the French company.
The existence of a revolution in
which the Liberals have been contend
ing for the franchise and other rights
has precluded the assembly of congress
since that date, yet at the time when
the French company was about to pay
the sum of $6000,0O0 for such extension,
DR.. Sanclemente, hoping to secure
enough ready funds to resist the at
tacks of the revolutonists, accepted
$l.OOO,O00 and granted time extending to
1910. The French company was warned
that this was illegal and that the
money would be forfeited; nevertheless,
1t was paid to the Colombian govern
ment. 1t is to this incident of history
that General Tribe refers. The author-
lied extension of time will lapse in 1904.
The general argues that there is no
need of the United States paying $4O,-
100000 to a company of European
Speculation for what in the course of
two years can be obtained by direct
treaty with Colombia, under better
conditions.
THE DECLARATION.
The public is aware of the fact that the
United States congress has just passed a
law authorizing President Roosevelt to
obtain for the North American nation the
right to build the Panama canal, provided
two conditions be filled: First-That the
title OF the French company be valid and
second-That said company should not
demand over forty millions of dollars for
the transfer.
The only thing that gives commercial
value to the French company's title is the
six years extension of time. granted by
DR.. Sanclemente without constitutional
power and after the Colombian congress-
thoriZe any negotiation directed towards
the granting of such an extension. More
over, 1t is a notorious fact that the de-
sire to annul the harmful effects of DR..
Sanclemente's illegal and anti-patriotic
act had great influence on the minds of
those who decided to depose him.
During the two years that-not counting
the extension of time-still remain before
the expiration of the term of the fran
chise, it is impossible for any human
power to fulfill the obligation of digging
the canal, and it is evident that no one
would buy the concession under condi-
tions so eXacting. Eight years, however,
would be amply sufficient for American
energy, science and capital to accomplish
this great enterprise.
Now, the extension of time which is
really what the French company can SELL
is not legal If Colombian congress-
freely elected. does not ratify it. Not
even the transfer of the franchise to a
government will be valid without the pre-
Vious consent and approval of the same
congress. Thus the title that the French
company presents to the government OF
the United States Is not a perfect and
transferable title, while 1t lacks the sane
ton of the supreme authority. which. in
accordance with the existing constitution,
is the legislative power.
The Colombian liberal party-guded by
the purest patriotic sentiment-has al
ready most solcmnly protested against
DR.. Sanclemente's proceeding. I do here
by confirm that protest. inasmuch as it is
supported by the party and justified by
reason.
NO NEED OF HASTE.
Should the extension Of time be dis
approved, the expiration of the French
franchise will inevitably take place in
October, 1904. l fail to see any we'll
founded motive to justify haste to gain
two years in definitely setting out to
execute work without which humanity
has been able to exist and advance dur
ing myriads of years. Let lis be patient
for twenty-siX months longer, until
the encumbering French imbroglio will
straighten out by the natural course of
events, and then direct treaty between
the two nations can be effected with
greater reciprocal advantages and with
out costly outside Intermediates.
The decision of the United States con-
gress in favor of the Panama route has
given cause for joy and profound graft
tude to all Colombians, who thus see the
work of the canal fall into responsible
and strong hands, capable of accomplish
ing the purpose. But the fact most wor-
thy Of congratulations is that this power
exists within the limits of the American
continent. Much greater would be the
however, for sons of the New
World had they not to buy from mere
European company the right to carry out
reforms and introduce improvements on
American soil, Indeed is it not anomal-
Gus tina, ~ order to deal with each other
two nations of the American family
should have to ask and pay dearly for
permission from an intruding third party?
Little difference could be detected be-
tween the galeons of oiden times, which