Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-11-19
NEW TREATY WITH PANAMA.

Bunau.Varilla, the minister from Pan
ANA, at $40 O'Clock yesterday evening
signed the Hay -Bunau-V -Varilla treaty
providing for the construction OF the
Panama canal by the United States.
The ceremony occurred in Secretary
Hays study in Washington. The
Panama Minister arrived at Mr.. Hay
house promptly at 6 O'Clock, having
made an appointment with the Secre-
ary for a conference at that hour. lie
was surprised to find that the Secretary
had before him the treaty y-engrossed in
duplicate. The Secretary informed Nj.
Bunau- Varilla that he was ready to sign
the treaty. The Minister read the
document carefully and then he and
Secretary Hay attached their signatures
to it.
Hearty congratulations were exchanged
and it was agreed that the news of the
signing of the treaty should be kept
from the public Tor the present. Presi-
dent Roosevelt was immtd alely advised
of the signing Of the document and
Minister Bunau-Varila sent a conf
dental cablegram to his government
stating that the treaty had been signed.
The Secretary and Minister refused to
comment on the ceremony. The only
official admission that can be had IS
that the "terms of the treaty are practi-
cally settled"
The keynote Of the treaty is the pro-
vision in one of the very first articles by
which Panama cedes to the United States
whatever land or lands throughout the
republic of Panama this government
shall find desirable in connection with
the building or the operation and main
tenance of the canal In addition, the
treaty gives TO the United States absolute
sovereignty over the canal strip, which,
it is understood, comprises between 8
and 10 miles on each side of the canal.
Within this zone the power ofthe United
States is as absolute as if the zone were
part and parcel of this country.
In general it may be said that while
the new treaty contains many of the pro-
visions of the tailed Hay-Horran treaty,
it is not based on that convention,
but follows not only the spirit but the
letter of the Spooner act. Thus, instead
of the lease for fixed period of the can
al strip this new treaty provides for
perpetual grant of the right of way tc
the United States, and instead of a COM
plcated provision for courts of fixed
composition-half American and hall
Colombian-to administer justice over
the canal strip, the new treaty permits
this government to exercise the most
complete jurisdiction thereupon.
Permission also is given the United
States to fortify the line and the termi'
sails, and it may police it with troops.
That portion of the treaty dealing with
the fortifcation of the terminals is rather
general, but sufficiently explicit not to be
misunderstood.
The cities Of Panama and Colon re.
tain their municipal autonomy under
the Republic of Panama so long as they
maintain public order and sanitary con-
ditions to the satisfaction of the United
States. Failure to do this gives the
United States, according to the treaty,
the right 10 force strict compliance with
the wishes OF this government in this
direction, and the United States
can even use force to compel obedience
to its rules as o..public order and public
health in these cities.
The money consideration is the same
in the new treaty as in the Hay-Herran
convention, with the exception that the
$40, 900, 900 goes to Panama instead oi
Colombia.
The treaty further provides that the
canal is to be neutral and open to all ma
tons on even terms.
Two-thirds of the treaty concerns de-
tails of administration, which, while no
necessary to the efficacy of the conven-
ton, will, it is believed, commend the
new treaty to many members of the Sen
ate who have picked flaws in the defunc
Hay-Herran convention.
The contention of the Washington
government that the capital Of the new
republic be not located in either Panama
or Colon was not pressed by Secretar,
Hay when he found that the Panami
government was earnestly opposed to it
and the treaty makes no such provision
This, however, is not regarded by thu
secretary as vital point in view OF th'
extensive rights which the UniteC
States has throughout the canal striI
and its especially wide jurisdiction i.
the terminal cities. Thisis the only poin
in the negotiations which caused the ex
preston of difference of opinion.
No time will be lost by Panama il
ratifying the new treaty. Whether th,
ratification will be made by the govern
ment at Panama or whether the com
mission which arrived in Washington
last night will be cabled power to ratif.
it has not yet been determined Th
exchange of ratifcations will occur il
Washington.
The Panama Minister went to tn
. station last nightthat he mightpersonall
welcome the distinguished officials VIII
compose the commission. The Ministe
willintroduce them to the officials of th