The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-29
An Unwise Proposition.

An Unwise Proposition.
Senator Cullom's advice to the president
that the United States, after paving the
Panama Canal company the proposed
S40,O00,000 asked for the canal franchise.
should proceed to the work of canal con-
structlon, without paying any attention
to protests from Colombia, is not credit
able to the senator's usually good judg-
ment. The advocates of drastic measures
to be applied to the persistent obstinacy
OF the Colombian government. which de-
cllnes to accept the terms of the Isthmian
canal act as embodied in the proposed
treaty. have not probably counted the
cost Of a seizure of the Isthmus by our
government
There is not the slightest doubt that
such action will awaken the scarcely
slumbering fires Of jealousy and hatred
toward this country entertained by many
republics. Chile and
Colombia now are in treaty obligations to
help each other in the military and naval
way in case Of trouble, and aggressive
action on our part on the Isth1nus will
revive strongly the project of organizing
a Spanish American league against us.
Even our temporary occupation of the
1sthmus under the treaty of 1876, which
requires us to maintain open transit from
sea to sea, has been deeply resented by
Colombia who is bound by the same
treaty. The Colombian revolution justi-
NJ
made it necessary to protect the Panama
railway.
1t is exceedingly doubtful if our gov
eminent has full authority as Senator
Cullom says, to dig the canal as soon as
the purchase money is paid over to the
Panama Canal company for the franchise.
We cannot seize a canal route through
Colonbia's territory under condemnation
proceedings for there is no court having
jurisdiction in the matter and we would
place ourselves in the attitude of Ger
many when she seized the bay and littoral
admitted it's obligations to obtain COL
ombia's consent to canal operations on the
Isthmus by formulating treaty to secure
such consent, and, after the conveyance
of the franchise by the Panama Canal
company, there Is not a shred Of author
ity under which we can proceed with the
work without the consent Of Colombia.
Just at this stage of our national his
tory we do not want to initiate the free
booter processes Of Russia and Germany
and France in China.
What this nation wants is the efrectua-
act, notably section 2, which authorizes
the president to acquire from Colombia
perpetual control of strip Of land in
the state of Panama, including jurisdic-
ton over it and the ports at the termini
of the proposed canal, and make such
police and sanitary rules and regulations
which are necessary to preserve order and
promote the public health along the route
and to establish the tribunals necessary, to
effectuate the proposed rules and regula-
TONS At the. same time the canal act
specifically comedies the sovereignty Of
Colombia and disclaims any intention to
impair it in any way. - 49, WHIT -.
Unless this provision is conceded by
Colombia it will be folly to undertake the
canal work. Joint control would be i'm
practicable. Undivided control Of the
strip by the United States is essential.
Seizure of the, strip would be an act Of
war, Chile, who has been for years try
ing to unite the South, American @repub-
lies In q formal alliance for mutual pro-
lection, she to play the part Of Prussia In
,Bismarck's North German bund, will re-
double her activities in that direction and
the United States will have a. decidedly
Uncomfortable time, for these Spanish :
American republics will behave like in
dustrious fleas, behave upon a victim who
wants rest and peace. Colombia is fish
which it is necessary to manage as an ex-
pert in landing game fish manages his
line She will be landed in time by judi
cious manipulation and by not appearing
too anxious to get what we want.