The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-28

occurred in Secretary Hays study. The
Panama minister arrived at Mr.. Hays
house promptly at s o'clock, having
made an appointment with the Score
tary for conference at that hour. He
was surprised TO find that the Secre-
tary had before him the treaty en-
crossed 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 at
taehed their signatures to II.
Hearty congratulations were ex-
changed. and it was agreed that the
news of the signing of the treaty
should be kept from the public for the
present. President Roosevelt was ad-
vised Of the signing and NJ. Bunau-
Varilla sent a confidential cablegram
TO his government stating that the
treaty had been signed.
Although the treaty has not yet been
made public the Associated Press is
enabled to give the substance of the
document.
1t consists Of between twenty-five
and twenty-five articles, but the main
points of the convention are contained
in the first six articles.
The keynote of the treaty is the pro-
vision in one Of the very first articles
by which Panama eedes to the United
States whatever land or lands through
out the Republic Of Panama this Gov
eminent shall find desirable in con-
neetion with the building or the oper-
alton and maintenance of the canal. In
u ~
ted States abundant sovereignty over
the canal strip, which, it is under
stood, comprises between eight and ten
miles on each side OF the canal With
in this zone TIE power of the 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
provisions of the failed Hay-Herran
treaty, it is not based on that conven-
ton. but follows not only the spirit but
the letter of the Spooner act. Thus,
instead of the lease for fixed period
of the canal strip, this new treaty pro-
vides for perpetual grant of the right
of way to the United States, and in
stead of complicated provision for
American and half Colombian-to ad-
minister justice over the canal strip,
the new treaty permits this Govern
ment to exercise the most complete
jurisdiction thereon.
Permission also is given the United
States to fortify the line and the ter
minals, and IT may police it with
troops. That portion Of the treaty
dealing with the fertilization of the
terminals is rather general, but suffi-
GENTLY explicit not to be misunder-
stood.
The cities of Panama and Colon re-
tain their municipal autonomy under
the Republic of Panama so long as
they maintain public order and sani-
tary conditions to the satisfaction Of
the United States. Failure to do this
gives the United States, according to
the treaty, the right to 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 to
public order and public health in these
cities.
The money consideration is the same
In the new treaty as IN the Hay-Her-
ran convention, with the exception that
the s100o0,080 goes to Panama instead
of to Colombia
The treaty further provides that the
canal is TO be neutral and open to all
nations on even terms.
Two-thirds of the treaty concerns de-
tails Of administration, which, while
not necessary to the efficacy of the con-
vention. viii, it is believed, commend
the new treaty TO many members OF
the Senate who picked flaws in the
defunct Hay-Herran convention.
Secretary Hay had a conference with
the Panama Minister late last night
and the general terms of the treaty
were agreed upon.
The contention of the Washington