Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-09-01
4 HIchRhGUAH CANAL
May Be Built If Colombia Does
Not Soon Ratify
Treaty.
NO REASON FOR FURTHER DELAY
Senator and Representatives Ling
Consulted and Decisive Action Elk
pected-Protocols Permit lmmedi-
ate Beginning of Work.

Hay has invited senators and repre-
sentatiyes interested in the Isthmian
canal to meet and discuss the adyis-
ability OF going ahead with the canal
by the Nicaraguan route. This would
indicate that the administration does
not intend to be longer delayed by
the whims of Colombia. Senator Cul-
Iom, chairman of the committee on
foreign relations of the senate: Repre-
sentative Hit. chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign affairs of the house;
Senator Morgan and Representative
Hepburn. chairmen of the canal COM
mittee of the senate and house OF rep
resentatiyes, respectively, are among
those who have been called into con-
ference.
They will be asked to state their
views as to whether "a reasonable
time" has been given Colombia to
ratify the treaty.
Delay Will Not Be Tolerated.
The condition of affairs in Colombia
has now become so complicated that
1t appears to be futile to longer pur-
sue negotiations. The course now be-
ing taken by the secretary of state, T.
is believed, shows conclusively that
the administration does not intend to
longer permit any dallying with this
important question. and 1t Is asserted
that active operations looking toward
the building of canal may be expect
ed In the near future.
The report that the department OF
Panama Is on the verge Of a revolt
tends to make the situation In Colon
bia an impossible one, so far as build
ing q canal there is concerned. The
situation has in this way became a
very delicate one.
Protocols Give Ample Authority.
There has been some disagreement
as to the course that should be adopt
ed by this government under the
Spooner amendment In turning to Mic
aragua for the route for canal. 1t
is understood that the secretary OF
state, as we'll as prominent members
of the senate and house. believe that
the protocols that were agreed to be-
and Nicaragua in December, 1900, give
ample authority to proceed with the
building of the canal in Nicaragua.
In the event of the ratification of
the treaty for the building of canal
In Panama there would have been a
necessity in the near future for
further treaty negotiations for the set
Element of many details that were not
disposed OF finally by that document.
Can Go to Work at Once.
The treaty was ratified by the SEN
ate in the exact form that it was ne
gotiated, with the understanding that
corrections to some of it's provisions
might be made. 1t was admitted by
many senators that probably all of the
amendments proposed by Senator MOI.
gan were desirable. but they took the
ground that If the treaty were changed
it would delay it's final ratification, as
the form in which 1T went to the SEN
ate was satisfactory to the Colombian
government
1t is exactly in this same way that
additional treaty stipulations between
this country and Nicaragua and Costa
RIGA will have to be made. They are
rot, it is declared, of<a nature to in
terfere with the immediate beginning
OF the work 1t is also understood
that If the United States wishes to be-
gin the construction of the canal in the
near future there Is no reason for de-
Law