The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-08-21
a L 9 TO CANAL.
Notion of Colombian Congress Is Con-
sidered Fatal to Treaty.

sidered Fatal to Treaty.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 1s.-Col-
'mbia practically has killed the Pan
una canal treaty, and it is believed
President Roosevelt will select the MIC
raguan route.
colombia struck a death blow when
ne congressional committee adopted
alne amendments, n one Of which
VIII be fatal, owing to the impossible
Sty Of securing their adoption by the
United States senate.
officials are in the dark as to the
exact nature Of these amendments.
lt Is known that the two principal
amendments provide for a 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 n perpetual control
over this territory. The other amend
sments are considered unimportant.
The committees action must be rat
fled by the Colombian congress-, but
there Is scarcely any doubt about the
ratification, as the amendments We're
agreed to by the friends of the canal,
It's enemies on the other committee
having voted in favor Of the absolute
rejection Of the treaty.
Wore ~OtSCouFa9lnS Oelay.
officials Of the state department are
llsSusted as 1t means a long delay in
The construction of the canal. Senior
Herran, Colombian charge d. affaires,
said:
II am bitterly disappointed. Those
amendments are fatal to the treaty. I
DO not know their exact wording, but
any amendment will be fatal"
Colombia's action has revived the
htffG-,, GC>1ot yvhjoI- h G. .l>oa,,3 f1,, ~H r 1,n-o
for more tina a year. 1t began during
the negotiation Of the treaty which re-
suited in the recall of Senior Concha,
the Colombian minister, whe was de-
posed at the request of Secretary Hay,
who objected to Concha's dilatory tao
tics, and the fac that he insisted on
an excessive bonus, objecting to Civ
strip Of territory. After Concha's re-
call the negotiations proceededsnooth-
", conducted by DR.. Herran. They
were extremely delicate, m only after
exercising great patience 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 $4,000, 900. DR.. Herran expe-
rienced considerable difficulty in
agreeing to the terms, but finally sue
ceeeded.
Will Not Be Sandbagged.
Now Colombia has repudiated its
solemn agreement and is attempting to
sandbag the United States by demand
ing a larger payment. This demand
Will not be agreed to, first, because the
United States will not be held up after
the fashion of a highwayman, and,
second, because it will be almost i'm
possible to secur the assent of the
United States aeaate to the amend
ments The bitter struggle in the SEN
ate to secure the ratification of the
treaty in It's 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 regulating
it's solemn agreements. Some months
ago he caused a robust intimation to
be conveyed to Colombia that unless
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. II
the vague dispatches received here give
the true situation President Roosevelt
WILL, Ill dll plODdD1llty, 1llStIUCt CGCTC-
tary Hay to afix his signature to them
and secure those of the N~icaraguan
and Costa Rican minister. These trea-
ties will then be referred to the Unit
ed States senate n the congresses Of
the two Central American republics.
There probably will ensue a p~rotracted
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 ana company's property and
control of the necessary strip OF terri
tory for which he was given authority
to pay a reasonable sum. He is also
directed 20 secure other rights, includ-
ing that of defense and the control Of
q Panama railway. This
agreed to sell it's interests for S4O,0OO,-
900 and Colombia agreed upon $1O,OOO,-
900 for concessions.
President Is to Decide.
The president is authorized to choose
the N~icaraguan route II, after a reas-
enable time he is unable to secure a
title, concessions, and control of ter
r1tory and other concessions. This law
was signed on June IS. 1902, nearly
fourteen months ago. and practically
no progress toward the construction Of
the canal has been made. This is con-
sidered more than a reasonable time,
and therefore President Roosevelt
shortly announce his intention of Sc
lecting the Nicaraguah route
II the president decides upon the
N!caraguan route it will be gratifying
to Senator Morgan, who is practically
the father of the proposed Nicaraguan
canal. He has contended for it in and
out of season, n even after the treaty
.... .ro I :, t,I= 1,oao -, 1.o {4l.. -. -
asserting thai those who negotiated
it on the part of Colombia had no legal
right to act, as they We're representa-
tives of those who had usurped the
government.