Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01
DR.. Herran Relieves the CO.
lOmbian Minister.
CONTROL OF ISTHMUS
QUESTION MAY BE SATISFACTO-
RILY SETTLED.
Prospects Regarded as Brighter fol
Taking the Panama Canal-Less
Obstruction Expected.

occurred In official and diplomatic circles
this morning by the announcement that
Senior Don Jose Vincent Concha, Colombian
minister to the United States, had been re-
neved from that duty by the Colombian
government and would probably be sue
ceeded as minister by DR.. Thomas Herran.
secretary of the legation. who Is now act
ing as charge d'affaires. The change Is or
the utmost Importance as bearing upon the
possibilities of a canal treaty covering the
Panama route. Somehow it has come to be
understood that Minister Concha, while not
averse to any treaty, had assumed an attt-
tude that made 1t impossible to expect an
agreement with him upon any convention
that would be acceptable to the State De
partment. The latter felt itself bound
strictly by the letter of the Spooner law,
and the cardinal point of that act was the
requirement that the United States should
have perpetual control" of the strip
wherein the canal was to be dug.
The Point at ISSUE
Minister Concha held that to comply with
this requirement meant an abrogation of
Colombian sovereignty over the territory
such as was obnoxious to the Colombian
constitution, and besides was Objectionable
to the people.
view of that point. In the first place, it
satisfied itself, by careful examination of
the Colombian constitution, which, by the
way, was a document very hard to secure
here, that 1t contained no specific prohibit
ton against the alienation of Colombian
territory.
In the second place the advices received
by the department directly from It's own
agents In Colombia were directly at va
Rance with Minister Concha's views as to
the sentiment of the Colombian people.
This information was. in fact, to the effect
that the majority of the Colombians wanted
the canal badly, and, being unwilling to
take any chances of IS being dug In Mica
ragua, were not disposed to sickle about
terms, but insisted upon treaty with the
United States Still the State Department
was disposed to save the feelings of the
Colombians as far as consistent with the
Spooner act and did not seek to establish
sovereignty upon the isthmus in the
convention II outlined. But Minister Com
cha could not be brought to see how the
United States proposition could be recon-
ciied with his sense of the meaning of the
colombian constitution and the wishes of
MS people, and, having stood fast against
several strong representations from his own
government, the latter decided to place the
further negotiations in the hands of DR..
Herran.
1t is of course. assumed from this change
that the chances of the Colombian treaty
have been bettered.
DR.. Herran's Attitude.
DIR. Herran does not regard any of the
questions that have arisen as serious OBJ
stacles to the negotiations of a treaty that
will alike satisfy the Washington and b.
gotta governments. The most intricate
point involved has been that of the degree
Of control. which the United States shall
be granted on the isthmus. If Dr. Herran
reads the Spooner act Alright the question
OF sovereignty Is not involved. That is
the View held by the State Department
which interprets the perpetual control
clause of the Spooner act to mean such
authority on the tsthmus will enable this
country to construct, operate and protect
satisfactorily an isthmian canal 1t would
seem. therefore, that this question, which
has thus far held up the conclusion of g.
treaty. is IN a fair way to be settled be-
tween Colombia's new representative and
Secretary Hay.
Minister Concha's Departure.
The cablegram from Bogota instructing
DE- Herran to assume charge of the lega-
uon In Washington and to continue the
negotiations was received here November
-. Minister Concha left Washington, for
New York last Friday. and while he may
return for a short stay. It is not his inten-
Ton to resume his diplomatic duties The
occasion TOT his visit to New York is to
meet his brother-in-law. ]. NJ Gonzalez
valencia. who Is returning to Colombia
from Rome. where for some time he has
served his country as minister.
IL is probable that the Colombian lega-
tloh there Will not be maintained for the
present as there are no questions of i'm
portance pending between the two coun-
tries. MIR. GonZalez-ValencIai Is a brother
OF the commander-in-chief of the Colombian
forces senior Concha will not accompany
his brother to Colombia, but it is not
known at the legation how long he intends
TO remain IN this country
DR.. Herran's Career.
Dr. HeTran, whose appointment as min
lister VIII probably be officially announced
within few days. came to this country for
the first time at the age of three. His
father was minister to Washington from
iS4o-ie6S. and assisted in the negotiation of
the treaty OF New Grenada In 1916. by
Wh!ch the United States pledged itself to
maintain free transit across the isthmus
anu also represented his government In
drafting the Panama railroad contract Of
}aN So that IT may be said Dr. Herran
!aherits knowledge Of Colombian Amer{-
can relations as they affect the isthmus
Upon graduating from Georgetown Unfver-
sity In 1863 DR.. Herran went to London as
private secretary to the Colombian minis
ter He returned to Colombia In 1867 Later
ne served this country as an American con-
sui at Medellin- He was appointed secre-
tary of public instruction In 1898. and re-
year ne has served as secretary of Iega-
ton. Throughout the regime Of Minister
COncha DR.. Herran has been practically
the executive head Of the legation His ap-
pointment Is minister will be awaited with
interest in Washington, where he and his
family are popular members Of the dfplo-
matte corps. There is no doubt that the
state Department will give It's cordial as
sent 10 the succession of DIR. Herran as
minister.
DR.. Herran at State Department.
DR.. Herran called at the State Depart
ment today and acquainted Acting Secre-
tary Hill with the facts in the case. The
departments statement of the matter Is
that Minister Concha remains In New
York for the sake of his health and for
private reasons; that DR.. Herran Is charge
d'affaires ad interim. and that he has been
empowered by the minister TO conduct
further negotiations OF the canal treaty.
This statement does not change the expec-
eatton here that In the end DR.. Herran is
TO be made minister.