Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-09-30
CANAL TREATY DEAD.
COLUMBIAN CONGRESS FAILS
TO ACT IN TIME LIMIT.
Tinae for Ratification of the Hay Her
ran Convention Has Expired-fear's
Delay az sight Washington Now
Awaits New Proposal.

Al midnight Tuesday the Hay-Herran
PaTiama canal treaty became thing of
the pasr. As Tuesday was the last day
for the exchange of notifications of the
treaty, under the terms of the conyen-
ton, that instrument may be considered
as dead. For several weeks. some news
papers assert the treaty has been used
as e'ackmailing device for forcing the
Frcnch Panama Canal Company to give
up a portion of the $40,000,0O0 it was
to receive from the UnitId States for its
plant, concessions and completed chan
mel. The report that the Colon bians Sc
riously contemplated holding up" the
United States for larger bonus has new
er been fully authenticated, although
there was doubtless a disposition to de-
nland better terms from this government
until they were advised by the State De-
partment, through Minister Beaupre,
that no better offer would be made for
the canal concession.
The expiration of the time limit for the
ratification of the treaty, and the discus
sion of the probable course of the Presi-
dent and the future atus Of the Panama
route, naturally call public attention to
the act of Congress under which the
treaty was negotiated. This act was
passed at the first session of the Fifty
seventh Congress, and was approved
June IS, 1902. 1t Authorizes the pay
ment of S40,000,000 to the Panama
Canal Company for its plant, concessions
and unfinished work. and the requirement
by the President from the republic of
Colombia upon such terms as he may
deem reasonable" of perpetual control
Ell canal strip. 1t provides for the 2p-
pointment of canal commission to have
charge OF construction, for preliminary
appropriation and for the bond issue to
defray expenses.
Section 4, which is now the bone of
contention between those who favor the
Panama route and those who wish the
President to turn to the Nicaragua route,
provides that should the President be
unable to obtain for the United States d
satisfactory title TO the property of the
Panama Canal Company and the con
troll of the necessary territory of the
republic of Colombia, and the rights
mentioned in sections l and of the act,
within reasonable time and upon rea-
SCRABBLE terms, then the President shall, :"
after having negotiated a satisfactory
treaty with Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
direct the canal commission to proceed
with the excavation Of canal by the
Nicaragua route.
1t is contended by some that the lam
guagc of this section makes it obligatory
upon the President to open negotiations
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica at once.
and that the Panama route must be
abandoned. 1t is difficult to see how
such a construction can be put upon the
plain language of this section of the
canal act 1t says that should the Presi-
dent be unable to secure the control of
canal strip within a reasonable time
and upon reason able terms" be shall open
up negotiations for canal treaty with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
What is means by "a reasonable time, y
whether six months or two years, is left
to the judgment of the President. The
Colombian government has signified
through DIR. Herran n desire to renew
negotiations.