Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-30
ATTITUDE OF COLOMBIA
STATEMENT OF MIR. CROMWELL,
OF THE PANAMA CANAL co.
Regards the Recent Incident on the
Isth1nus as Unduly Magnided-
Capt. McLean's Account.

Secretary Hay had two callers yester-
day afternoon, who talked about isthmian
canal matters. The first was Mr.. Crom-
well, counsel for the Panama Canal COM
pany, who wished to ascertain the next
step to be taken by the United States gov
ernment in view of Attorney General
Knoxs opinion respecting the canal tltle
AS this seems to depend for the moment
on the issue of the negotiations with the
Colombian government, no direct in-orma-
tion could be furnished.
Later in the day came Captain Mclean,
lately In command Of the cruiser Cincin-
natl He gave the Secretary most In
teresting account Of the situation on the
isthmus The Secretary was particularly
impressed by the tactful manner In " hlch
the naval officer had maintained fricholH
and even cordial personal relations win
the Colombian officers while 'iuletiy hus
effectuany exercising the treaty powers OF
the United States government toward the
ma tenance Of freedom Of traffic across
the isthmus.
Mr.. Cromwell, representing The Panama
Canal Company, subsequently, made the
following statement in regard to the situa-
ton:
Il regard the recent incidents on the
isthmus as being unduly magnitied. They
will soon disappear. l an assured by
instructions regarding the canal treaty
transmitted by that government give as
surances of satisfactory conclusion as
soon as Minister Concha takes up the ne
gotiations actively. l have no doubt his
government will authorize him to proceed
on these lines within a few days. 1t is
to be remembered that the minister al
ready has manifested his cordtel epproVal
of a treaty by proposing to this govern
ment the treaty of May Is last Nothing
apnn ~ Z
cordiality of Colombia and its welcome to
the United States in the construction or
the canal upon it's territory than the OH
cial communications of Senior Contha TO
Secretary Hay in May. AS to the incl
dents on the>isthmus 1 am sure Secretary
HAY has never couptenanced any action
which would be inconsistent with the SOW
ereignty or dignity of Colombia, and that
his policy and conduct is, as 1t always has
been, with a scrupulous regard to me
liberty sovereignty and independence and
freedom of the South American republics.
They have no nobler nor more helpful
friends on this continent than the Presi-
dent and Secretary Hay, both of whom
stand for the liberty of the South Amerl-
can republics and the maintenance of neu-
trality in its most civilized and Christian
sense.
Minister Concha Growing Restive.
It developed today that Senor Concha,
under the delay Of his government In CIV
ing him further instructions in answer to
his dispatch regarding the conditions which
have arisen since the forwarding of the
letter directing him to proceed with the
negotiations for a treaty with the United
States affecting the right of way for the
Panama canal. He has sent several re-
quests for this information without avail
The legation officials, however, are moved
to the belief that the message of Secretary
Hay to Minister Hart, sent Tuesday, Will
have the effect of accelerating matters,
and that an early adjustment of the pend
ing questions which are delaying final ac-
ton on the treaty may be looked for.
Much of the delay has been occasoned,
so it is learned. by the attitude of Governor
Salazar of Panama, who has been writing
numerous letters to the legation here, and
these more or less influenced Mr.. Concha In
postponing action his original instruc-
tions to proceed with the negotiation of the
treaty.