Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-08-20
DEATH BLOW TO CANAL
Action Of Colombian Congress Is Con.
sidered Fatal to Treaty.

Action Of Colombian Congress ls Con-
sidered Fatal to Treaty.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 1s-Col-
ombia practically has killed the PAN
anna canal treaty, and it is believed
President Roosevelt will select the Mic
araguan route.
Colombia struck a death blow when
the congressional committee adopted
nine amendments, any one Of which
VIII be fatal, owing to the impossible
ity OF securing their adoption by the
United States senate.
Omcials are in the dark as to the
exact nature of these amendments.
From meager and mutilated dispatches
1t is known that the two principal
amendments provide for large in
crease In the bonus demanded for the
strip through which to construct the
waterway, and for a provision which
prohibits Colombia giving the United
states absolute and perpetual control
over this territory. The other amend
ments are considered unimportant
The committees action must be rat
flied by the Colombian congress, but
there is scarcely any doubt about the
ratification. as the amendments were
agreed to by the friends OF the canal
Its enemies on the other committee
having voted in favor OF the absolute
FeJectlOn OF the treaty.
More Discouraging Delay.
Officials OF the state department are
disgusted as it means long delay in
the construction of the canal. Senior
Herran, Colombian charge d. affaires,
said:
1 am bitterly disappointed. Those
amendments are fatal to the treaty. 1
do not know their exact wording but
any amendment will be fatal"
Colombtas action has revived the
bitter fight which has been fought here
for more than a year 1t began during
the negotiation of the treaty which re-
the Colombian minister, whe was de-
posed at the request of Secretary Hay,
who objected to Concha's dilatory tao
tics, and the fact that he insisted on
an excessive bonus, Directing to Civ
ing to the United States control of the
strip of territory. After Concha's re-
call the negotiations proceeded smooth
ly, conducted by Dr. Herran. They
were extremely delicate, and only after
exercising great pa$ienoE and tact did
Secretary Hay succeed in negotiating
the treaty which gave the United
States control of the six mile strip of
territory for which Colombia was to
receive $10,000,000. DIR. Herran expe-
rienced considerable difficulty in
agreeing 10 tne tetINS OUT uually sue.
ceeeded.
Will Not Be sandbassed.
Now Colombia has repudiated its
solemn agreement and is attempting to
sandbag the United States by demand
Ing larger payment. This demand
will not be agreed to, first, because the
United States will not be held up after
the fashion of highwayman, and,
second. because it will be almost i'm
possible to secure the assent of the
United States senate to the amend
ments The bitter struggle in the SEN
ate to secure the ratification of the
treaty in Its present shape is still fresh
in mind. Therefore, the United States
will not recede from it's position.
President Roosevelt has lost patience
with Colombia because Of the delay on
the treaty and its action in repudiating
Its solemn agreements. Some months
ago he caused a robust intimation to
be conveyed to Colombia that unless
the treaty should be ratified without
further delay he would select the Mica
ragua route.
Treaty with Nicaragua Ready.
Treaties with Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA have been prepared for some
months and only await the signatures
of the negotiators to put them in shape
to be sent to the ratifying bodies. If
the vague dispatches received here give
the true situation President Roosevelt
will, In all probability, instruct Secre-
tary Hay to affix his signature to them
and secure those of the Nicaraguan
and Costa Rican minister. These trea-
ties will then be referred to the Unit
ed States senate and the congresses of
the two Central American republics
There probably will ensue protracted
contest in the United States senate, as
the opposition to the canal is strong,
but there will be no difficulty about the
other notifications.
Under the law authorizing the con-
struction Of the Isthmian canal, the
president is authorized to secure title
to the canal company's property and
control of the necessary strip of terri
tory for which he was given authority
to pay reasonable sum. He is also
to secure other rights includ-
ing that of defense and the control Of
a Panama railway. This company
agreed to sell its interests for 100000
900 and Colombia agreed upon 100000
900 for concessions.
President is to Decide.
The president is authorized to choose
the Nicaraguan route If, after reas-
enable time he is unable to secure q
title, concessions. and control of ter
ritory and other concessions. This law
was signed on June 2S 1902, nearly
fourteen months ago, and practically
no progress toward the construction OF
the canal has been made. This is con-
sidered more than reasonable time,
and therefore President Roosevelt may
shortly announce his intention of Sc
lecting the Nicaraguan route.
If the president decides upon the
N.caraguan route it will be gratifying
to Senator Morgan, who is practically
the father of the proposed Nicara guam
canal. He has contended for it in and
out of season, and even after the treaty
was negotiated he attacked it savagely,
asserting that those who negotiated
1t on the part of Colombia had no legal
right to act, as they were representa-
tives of those who he'd usurped the
government.
BEAR TOO AGGRESSIVE.