New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-09
C0LOMBIA'S OPPOSITION.
Reasons Why the South American People
Are Against the Canal.

Ra1l Perez in The North American Review.
The popular belief exists that no Colombian can
States az @ a %Gn 5I s ye 0 his the
The facts they should be understood may be
Ffrst-Neither the Colombian Executive nor an
ordinary Congress can constitutionally ratify a
treaty that involves cession Of territory to for
second-The canal will not be of as much benefit
10 Colombia as those who are unfamiliar with the
Third-Colornbiars firmly believe that there are
other solutions TO the problem which, besides being
fair and legal would permanently satisfy both the
United States and Colombia
The most important matter to be settled with
gard to opening the canal is that of exactly de-
ming the status OF the party that will carry on
the entsrprise 1t is evident at glance that there
such the Compagnie UniverselIe du Canal de
Panama and the powerful government of the
dong and was to do business under the protection
every deta being consideTe9 innv 'eSe "a "9 5b
~ & is any Colombian citizen
p which READS as follows
persons will have no further rights than those
granted to Colombian citizens
fected and the consequent transferrence Of rigbts
carried would the United States submit to be
G05SloT jI merely jpridicaI person, with no
lying t+ on business in Colombian territory under
these laws in every respect? Such is not the spirit
o. the Herran- Hay treaty and. even if it were
glyings or approximations that point No
pertiat can crticse those Who o't desire that the
status OF the Panama Canal builders should be
most clearly defined, particularly in a case where
world power is TO be the builder.
Article p of the Salgar-Wyse contract Colombian
law . OF the 1873, in full force to-day,
as follows: The concessionGries. or those who in
the future may succeed them in their rights may
transfer those rights TO other capitalists
financial corporations; but they expressly for
hidden to transfer them or mortgage them, under
Inent." Nothing could be more explicit and this
legal disposition in itself is enough inValidate
the INLAY treaty
only constitutional convention whose members
should be expressly elected by the people for that
purpose, would be empowered TO cede territory to
another country; but ii may be safely stated that
in no nation OF the world would il be possible 10
md such responsibility.
The proof of this is that. after the Colombian die
has himself chosen his unconditional
supporters members of the Congress about To
meet, the feeling exists that these picked men
Will not dare approve the cession OF the Panama
The enlightened classes of Colombia believe that
in the Isthmus of Panama their country holds
something of value for all time and they feel that
such property Is not exclusively their own, but
ii is the patrimony of all future generations of
Coombians who Will execrate their memory should
they squaIder the national birthrght.
The 100000 that Colombia would receive as the
only compensation is considered inadequate. and
the would be the il the sum were IN
creased TO 100000. This may sound preposterous
first consideration. bur not TO those who kno"
dictatoTs clique and the religious orders, that II
would thus but to strengthen the letters that
already cut the Colombian flesh TO the bone. and
that would only contemplate Its heritage
in proportion to the larger amount received
There is also a very erroneous impression To the
effect that the canal, when completed VIII have d
great beneficial influence our country me con
ditions they exist to-day place Colombia IN the
position OF the of a bridge. over which an
Immense traffic is constantine passing Ihere are