Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-01
THE PANAMA CANAL
Uncertainty When Treaty
Will Go Into Effect.
OPINION OF SENATORS
WHEN CONCESSION TO COMPANY
REALLY EXPIRES.
Officials Who Have Kept Informed Con-
corning Events Think Differently
on the Subject.

In the opinion of some Of the senators
who have followed events relating to the
Panama canal treaty the situation today Is
far from indicating that that treaty, al
passed by the Senate. will go into effect
This view Is taken because Of the situation
in Colombia and the fight that Is being
made there against the ratification of the
treaty by the Colombian congress.
Officials here who have been interested In
the framing Of the treaty, and who have
kept informed concerning events in Co
lombia, do not share this opinion. They
believe that the Colombian congress will
soon ratify the treaty and that any fight
made against 1t will not succeed.
On the 9TH of the present month the hold
ing of elections of members of the Colon
bian congress was begun. Because Of the
unsettled conditions in that country all OF
these elections could not be held at the
same time The Congress SO elected Will
meet in May, according to the provisions OF
the Colombian constitution. Then the treaty
that has been ratified by the United States
Senate will be brought before that congress
for ratification.
Ratification Doubted by Some.
The men who regard the outcome of the
fight in Colombia against the ratification of
the treaty as questionable do not undertake
to predict the outcome of that contest be-
cause Of any facts concerning the strength
Of the movement on either side at this time
They simply know that there is strong
party in opposition to the ratification Of the
treaty, and they regard their arguments
against ratification as sure to appeal
strongly to the Colombian congress.
The concession of the new Panama Canal
Company was granted by the Colombian
December 20. 1890, and again August 4.
1893. The time for the completion Of the
canal was fixed by these acts at October,
1904. In December, 1898, the government
sion of six years. to 1910, subject to the for
mality of ratification by Congress when it
should reconvene. The ratification by the
following congress did not take place. and
those who view the ultimate ratification of
the treaty recently acted on by the United
States Senate are of opinion that that
agreement to extend the concession beyond
October, 1904. is not only void, but that 1t
could not be revived except by an entirely
new proceeding.
When Rights Will Expire.
This view of the case gives the new Pan
ANA Canal Company rights in the Panama
canal that will expire in eighteen months,
after which the entire canal property, in
GLIDING the railroad and all machinery,
would be forfeited to the Colombian gov
eminent That being the case the question
is asked here: why should Colombia give
concession to the American government
for practically unlimited time. and receive
therefor only $4,000, 900. allowing $40, OOO. 600
to go to the new Panama Canal Company.
while by holding off for eighteen months
she would be In position to negotiate for
the sale Of those rights on terms that would
allow her to receive all of the money that
is to come from that Transaction"
Those who take this view claim that the
fact that the Colombian government has
negotiated the treaty acted on by our
Congress Is far from being conclusive evil
dence that that act carries with it their
intention to use their influence in ratifying
the treaty. At the time Of the activity OF
the new Panama Canal Company in bring
Ing about this result, there was a great
question as to whether Nicaragua or Pana-
ma should be chosen. If any strong OPP
position had been placed in the way of this
contamination at that time work on the
Nicaragua canal would now be in progress.
This Government Will Have to Wait.
AS 1t Is. this government will have to
wait for the action of the Colombian con-
gress. That might be long delayed. There is
no reason. 1t Is argued. why it should be con-
cluded this year. Until the Colombian con-
gress acts one way or the other 1t is not like
ly that this government could take any fur
Their action. That view would apply to any
reasonable time, and it Is stated by those
who are Well informed on this subject that
1t should not be regarded as unreasonable
II year Or two Is consumed. 1t will be
pointed out that our Congress was a long
time IN concluding the consideration Of the
treaty and even If the Colombian congress
Is still longer, no reasonable ground will
exist for action by this government. Delay
would bring the matter very close to the
time when 1t is claimed the concession of
the New Panama Canal Company is to ex-
pire, and then the issue would be brought
forward prominently.
Government Officials Think Differently
While officials of the government here ad-
init that the congress of Colombia has not
ratified the agreement by which the con-
cession for the building of the canal was
extended six years from 1904, yet they do
not acknowledge that that failure nullifes
the entire proceeding so far as the extern
sion Is concerned. They say that the gov
eminent of Colombia has approved the ex-
tension of the concession, claiming that
under the circumstances the legal REQUIRE
ments have been complied with. 1t must
be understood that since that concession
was granted there has been no session of
the Colombian congress, on account of the
unsettled condition of the country. The
present government has not questioned the
validity of that extension of the conces-
sion.
The suggestion that by repudiating the
concession by which the original conces-
sion was extended until 1910 Colombia
might be placed in a position by which she
could sell the canal property and secure
the whole of the s50,0OO.OOO, instead of
one-fifth of that amount, is secuted by men
who are carefully watching the events
connected with the canal treaty They as
sert that the Colombian congress will be
given to understand, If necessary, that this
government would not be a party to any
the cheating of the shareholders Of the
New Panama Canal Company by such a
course. They do not believe Congress
would for moment stand such conduct
ana feel sure that when the Colombian
congress meets it will fully understand the
situation in that respect. Generally thew
feel confident that after such discussion q 3