New-York tribune., 1903-01-24
PANAMA CANAL TREATY.
THE PAYMENTS FIYED
Colombia TO Receioe $40, 900. 900 and
$3.50, 900 -3nnuifu.
GBT TELBeRAPR TO THE rRrRuyp.1

Washington, Jan. 23-The Colombian ,rea+v
which was Unexpectedly signed at 3 o'clock yes.
terday afternoon, while amounting to a diplo-
matte triumph for Secretary, Hay. since it pro-
vides for an isthmian canal on terms which he
mas every reason for believing will prove ac-
ceptable to the Senate should also furnish salts
faction TO the Colombian Government. as it pro-
vides for an annual rental of S25OOoo to begin
in nine years. and increase in the cash pay
ment TO S10.eo0.0o0. and, moreover recognizes
the titular sovereignty Of Colombia over the
leased strip and permits the free transit of
Colombian troops in this territory. The offer of
the United States originally was 100000 and
an annuity of 100000 TO begin in fourteen
years. The Colombians have therefore succeed
ed IN securing an annuity two and half times
large. TO begin five years earlier. and an in
crease OF So, 600 600 in the cash payment On the
other hand. the annuity is not subject TO any
increase hereafter, S was the amount fixed in
the original proposition.
COMPROMISE ON THE ANNUITY
The question of annuity has presented the
most vexatious and serious obstacle to the
pletion OF the treaty. In the discussion of the
points OF the negotiations the Colombans re-
served the matter Of annuity to the last.
Finally. when all other points had been disposed
Of they presented a claim for S60000 based 1t
was asserted. on the actual revenue derived
annually by the Panama railroad port and
tonnage dues as well as lighthouse fees and
various other sources Of revenue. all of which
will go TO the United States under the terms of
the treaty, and in return for which the annuity
is to be paid. The State Department did not &C
cept the Colombian figures, and placed a value
Of 100000 on the various sources Of revenue
The disagreement this point led TO the pro-
posal on the part OF Colombia TO refer the ques-
rr.a -hera NJ
mission This proposal was refused. and the
final COMPROMISE on S250.OO0 was reached. By
the terms of the treaty the Panama railroad re-
verts to the United States instead Of 10 Colon1-
bia al the end OF sixty years
The problen of leasing the strip has been one
Of the most difficult in the whole negotiation
The trouble on the isthnus, occasioned by the
civil war in Colombia and the lancing Of Amer
ican marines by Admiral Casey. greatly compli-
Gated the situation and Minister Concha de-
manded that the treaty contain disavowal OF
this act and an assurance that il would not be
repeated This was. of course impossible and
for a time the negotiations were on the point
Of eupture. The abrupt and unceremonious de-
parture Of Sehor Concha removed this source OF
irritation, and in the treaty signed yesterday
annie recognition is made Of Colombian sover-
eighty without in the least jeopardizins the
situation.
This delicate matter OF Colombian sovereignty
in the leased strip is disposed Of in the follow
ing manner: The United States and Colombia
are TO arrange for the policing and the judicial
questions through a joint high commission. al
though no American citizen can be tried except
by his own courts. The United States VIII De
permitted TO police the strip. but will not be
allowed TO land troops there except in the case
OF a great emergency or at the request OF lne
Colombian Government or that OF the state
Of Panama and the troops must be removed
on the arrival Of a Colombian force adequate
70 preserve order. Panama and Colon are not
included in the leased strip. although within
the six mile limit but the control of the waters
Of these Two ports as well as the collection OF
port and tonnage dues, and all other matter
necessary to the construction and administra-
ZION of :tbe canal is vested in the United
States On the other hand, the lease Of the
strip is for century. and is renewable at tne
Will Of the United States, and therefore amounts
in practical terms TO a cession altnough the
term and the idea scrupulously avoided, In
Difference to Colombian sensibilities on this
point.
The prospects Of the ratification Of the treaty
by the Senate are greatly increased by the
knowledge that throughout the negotiations
Secretary Hay has been in close touch with Sen
etors Hanna and Spooner In fact, the measure
under-which the President was authorized 10
negotiate is known the Spooner act, and II
was introduced into the Senate by the Senator
from Wisconsin The fact that the treaty had
their approval makes the prospects OF Its pas
sage through the Senate unusually bright. de-
spite the congested situation and the defiant
position OF Senator Quay on the Statehooo
measure.
ONLY DANGER IN COLOMBIA.
The only serious danger to the treaty now is
apprehended in the action Of the Colombian
Congress rather than here.
The treaty is long one, consisting OF
twenty-eight articles, while the protocol had
twenty-seven. In addition TO the provisions for
4 joint judicial administration, 1t pledges Co
lornhia cede any territory, mainland or
insular, in the neighborhood Of the canal, ana
allows Colombia free transit of her troops
through the strip. The treaties signed yesterday
were typewritten copies, and the entire treaty
viii have 10 be rendered in longhand, task
which is being performed in the State Depart
Enent to-day.
Secretary Hay carried the rough draft OF the
treaty TO the Cabinet meeting this morning, ana
II was approved by the President and his as
sociates.
The treaty was sent to the Senate to-day ana
read fr executive session this evening. The only
comment made in the session was approval Of
the care with which the treaty had been drawn.
II was then referred TO the Committee on For
eign Relations After the treaty was read a
number Of prominent Senators expressed to The
Tribune their approval Of its terms and their
confidence that II viii be ratified.