Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-26
PANAMA CANAL TREATY
Text of the Document Now
Made Public.
THE AGREEMENTS MADE
PROVISIONS OF THE DIFFERENT
ARTICLES.
Conditions Under Which the United
States May Purchase the Canal
Company's Property.
THE AGREEMENTS MADE

brief executive session and voted to make
public the Panama canal treaty. The let
tiers Of transmittal of the President and
Secretary Hay were brief and formal and
contained no recommendations. Article
Of the treaty is as follows:
THE government of Colombia authorizes
the new Panama Canal Company to sell
and transfer to the United States its rights
privileges, properties and concessions, as
well as the Panama railroad and all the
shares, or part Of the shares Of that COM
pany; but the public lands situated out
side Of the zone hereinafter specified, now
corresponding to the concessions to both
lie Of Colombia. except any property now
owned by or in the possession Of the said
companies within Panama or Colon or the
ports and terminals thereof.
Special Shares.
"But is Is understood that Colombia re-
serves all its rights to the special shares in
the capital Of the new Panama Canal Com
pany, to which reference is made In article
of the contract of December 10, 1890,
which shares shall be paid their full nomi-
nal value at least; but as such right Of Co
lombia exists solely in it's character of
stakeholder In said company no obligation
under this provision Is imposed upon or as
sumed by the United States.
THE railroad company (and the United
States as owner Of the enterprise) shall be
free from the obligations imposed by the
payment at maturity by the railroad COM
pany of the outstanding bonds issued by
said railroad company"
Article II relates to the concession for
constructing the canal and the rights of
this government to the property for 100
years, with the privilege Of having the
lease perpetually renewed.
Article III grants to the United States a
zone Of territory ten kilometers about six
miles, wide, Including therein the neces-
case fifteen miles from the main canal, and
other works, together with ten fathoms of
water in the bay Of Limon in extension of
the canal and at least three marine miles
from mean low-water mark from each ter
minus Of the canal into the Caribbean sea
and the Pacific ocean, respectively. 80 far
as necessary for the construction, mainte-
nance and operation Of the canal, the
United States shall have the use and occu-
patton Of the group of small islands In the
bay Of Panama named Perico, Naos, Gu
Zebra and Flamenco, but the same shall
not be construed as being within the zone
herein defined nor governed by the special
provisions applicable to the same.
Private Rights.
This grant shall in no manner invalidate
the titles or rights Of private landholders in
the said zone of territory nor shall it in
terfere with the rights of way over the
public roads Of the department.; provided,
however. that nothing herein contained
shall operate to diminish, impair or restrict
the rights elsewhere herein granted to the
United States.
This grant shall not include the cities Of
Panama and Colon, except so far as lands
and other property therein are now owned
by or in possession Of the said canal COM
pany or the said railroad company, but
all the stipulauonS conta !ned in Article 80
of the treaty Of 1S46-4S between the con-
tracing parties shall continue and apply
in full force to the cities of Panama and
Colon and to the accessory community
lands and other property within the said
zone, and the territory thereon shall be
neutral territory, and the United States
shall continue to guarantee the neutrality
thereof and the sovereignty Of Colombia
thereover, in conformity with the above
mentioned Article 35 Of said treaty.
I'm furtherance of this last provision
there shall be created a Joint commission
by the governments Of Colombia and the
United States that shall establish and en-
force sanitary and police regulations.
Colombia's Sovereignty.
article w. The rights and privileges
granted to the United States by the terms
of this convention shall not affect the SOW
ereignty Of the republic of Colombia over
the territory within whose boundaries such
rights and privileges are to be exercised.
1.-The United States freely acknowledges
and recognizes this sovereignty and dis
avows any intention to impair 1t in any
way whatever or to increase its territory
at the expense Of Colombia or OF any of
the sister republics In Central or South
America, but on the contrary 1t desires to
strengthen the power Of the republics on
this continent and to promote, develop and
maintain their prosperity and independ-
ence.
Article v. The republic Of Colombia
authorizes the United States to construct
and maintain at each entrance and termi-
nus Of the proposed canal port for ves-
sells using the same, with suitable light
houses and other aids to navigation, and
the United States Is authorized to use and
occupy within the limits Of the zone fixed
by this convention such parts of the coast
line and Of the lands and islands adjacent
thereto as are necessary for this purpose,
including the construction and maintenance
OF breakwaters, bikes, jetties, embank-
ments, coaling stations. docks and other
appropriate works; and the United States
undertakes the construction and mainte-
nance Of such works and will bear all the
expense thereof. The ports when establish
ed are declared free and their demarcations
shall be clearly and definitely defined.
Health Safeguards.
10 give elect 10 ILLS aIICl0 Iue united
States will give special attention and care
to the maintenance of works for drainage,
sanitary and healthful purposes along the
line Of the canal and its dependencies in
order to prevent the invasion Of epidemics
or Of securing their prompt suppression
should they appear. With this end In
view the United States will organize hospi-
tails along the line Of the canal, and Will
suitably supply or cause to be supplied the
towns Of Panama and Colon with the nee
essary aqueducts and drainage works in
order to prevent their becoming centers OF
infection on account Of their proximity to
the canal.
1.-The government Of Colombia will secure
for the United States or its nominees the
lands and rights that may be acquired in
the towns of Panama and Colon to effect
the improvements above referred to, and
the government Of the United States or Its
nominees shall be authorized to impose and
collect equitable water rates during fifty
years for the service rendered, but on the
expiration Of said term the use Of the water
shall be free for the inhabitants Of Panama
and Colon, except to the extent that may be
necessary for the operation and mainte.
nance Of said water system including res
ervoirs, aqueducts, hydrants, supply sery.
Ice, drainage and other works.
Foreign Leases Forbidden.
Article VI. The Republic of Colombia
agrees that 1t will not cede or lease to any
foreign government any of its islands o,