The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-13
COLOMBIA MAY KEEL CANAL.
OUTLOOK, IF Not HOPELESS. rs
Not BRIGHT, SAYS HERRAN.
He Is Afraid the Congress VIII Tinker the
Treaty so That u VIII Not lie Accepta-
bic JIrrc--Thr Canal Attorney
Thinks the Treat, VIII BE Confirmed.

Cro,nwell attorney for the New Panama
Canal COMPANY. and Senior Herran the
Colombian Minister to tho United states.
do not agree as to the prospects for the ratl-
hcation of the canal Rcatv Mr.. Cromwell
takes execution To what he calls the current
reports" with regard to the treaty, and
tonight gave out the following statement:
THE Panama Canal Company has not
made n proposal to pay 81? 900 900 or any
sum whatever to the Colombian Govern
ment nor to any parties whatsoever IN
connection with the ratification OF the
>endng treaty.
Statements TO the contrary are apso-
lutely without the slightest foundation.
There Is no occasion for the consideration
of the subject from that standpoint. Co
lombia has already given full consent |"
the purchase by the United States rms
is a matter Of public record.
1.-THE Colombian Congress has just been
called in extraordinary session for June ~
70 deal especially with the treaty mace
BY its Ministers with the United States,
and we have every reason to expect that
the Congress will not only confirm the pro-
posals and actions of its President ana
Cabinet, but also of its Minister'S, Su'a'
Concha and Herran successfully and spe-
officially empowered 10 negotiate ana con-
clude the pending treaty which Is OF such
vast concern to the Colombian nation
I'm this matter the New Panama Cana
Company is not party. II is a matter be-
tween the two Governments. which have
already reached an explicit treaty agree
ment Up TO this hour | have, no coniir-
nation Of the report that President Mar
rooun has resigned, but even II 1t We're true,
the obligations of Colombia to the on,sd
States under the pending treaty hesolla-
tions could not be affected.
Minister Herran said tonight.
while the outlook for the passage OF
the canal treaty at the extraordinary ses-
sion of the Colombian Congress, whlch mas
been called to meet June 90 are not hopeless,
they are certainly not as bright as the friends
of the canal could wish There is very
strong sentiment in Colombia against the
canal 1t is regrettable that this should
be the case AS the construction oil the canal
hy the United States would be Of benefit
to my country.
NV strongest fear is that the Colombian
Congress will tinker with the convention
and amend il and change 1t until i Will
prove absolutely unacceptable to the lnlted
States Government. | am familiar with
the situation in both the United States and
Colombia, and l, with other friends OF the
canal, regret the existence OF mistaken
sentiment which will do more 10 prevent the
construction Of the waterway than anything
else. ,
.The Colombian people believe that
the consideration of the Nicaraguan Canal
was merely ruse, barefaced bluff, and
they SCOT at the idea that there was any
thing more in it than just that.
The friends OF the canal in Colombo,
notably Enrique Cortes OF the well-known
Colombian firm in London Of Cortes *
Co, have done, and are, doing. through
their arguments and able writings and
by every other means in their power. a
great deal to eradicate this false idea.
But it is still a fixed belief In the minds
Of a large portion Of the Colombian popu-
On the other hand. sentiment. in the
United States has it that the Colombian
Government would jump at SIC; 600 goo, or
the great benefit to be derived from the
canal. and that the construction OF the
great waterway would be the making Of
Colombia
ment in Colombia and tho United States
that has proved 50 hard to combat, and
has proved such an obstruction to the
officials OF the two countries who have
had in charge the negotiation OF the con-
sThere should be no understandings
between Colombia and tho United States.
These two countries should be bound
closely, not only by. the principle OF the
great Monroe Doctrine, but also by the
bonds Of trade and commerce.
"If the canal served no other purpose
than to bring the two countries into closer
touch, to develop the untouched Industries
OF one, and to broaden the commercial
relations and increase the merchant
marine Of the other, 1t would have served
a worthy purpose and paid for itself In this
way alone
AT present there Is not single line OF
American steamers running to Colombian
ports The only zine that connects the
ports Of this country with that Of Colombia,
fiies the German flag. while England has
five lines, Germany two, France two, Italy
one and Spain one.
1T is through tho farsightedness and
business ability Of an American that Eng
land practically controls the Colombian
trade A good many years ago, shortly
after tho independence Of the South Ameri-
can republics, an American named Wheel
right saw the future in the South American
trade and particularly that with Colombia.
He came to Washington and asked for a
subsidy. It was refused, or practically
that, for tho yearly amount offered was
sHe then went to Baltimore. Boston,
,deavored to engage the attention OF CAPT.
;talists. He was unsuccessful and then
went to England. The Pacific Navigation
Company. formed by him there, controlled
thu trade from the outset and Ii still a lead
ing factor In commerce in that portion Of
the world. hope to see the great water
way completed and the political and COM
mercial relations Of the United States and
Colombia grow closer and closer as a re-
suit Of that bond