Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-16
NAY DEFEAT CANAL
Greed of Colombia Has Com
pletely Blocked the Pan
ANA Deal
PRESIDENT READY TO GIVE UP
Colombia Has Played Fast and Loose
With State Department for Past Six
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Has Offered Rea-
sonahle Terms to the Government
No Fear of Germany.

washington, Jan. 16.-The Pana-
locked by the greed of Colombia that
| the president is almost ready to notify
congress that after reasonable time
and effort, he .is>unable to complete ne
gotiations for that waterway. The Col
ombian government has been playing
fast and loose with the state depart
ment for six months. Every time the
state department advances toward Col
ombian demands that government
raises its demand and it is now ap-
parent that there can be no concessions
secured without paying an enormous
sum of money for it.
1t would be useless for the state de-
partment to follow Colombian demands,
because the senate would not ratlfy
such treaty as Colombia is willing
to sign. There is only one thing which
prevents the president from breaking
off negotiations with Colombia and
turning to Nicaragua. That is the GER
tainty that Costa Rica will nold out
for big bonus for a canal concession
| by that route.
Nicaragua has offered reasonable
terms for a concession thru her terri
tory, but Costa RIGA has never agreed
to anything. and it is suspected that
Nicaragua is a party TO the refusal OF
Costa Rica to name price. These
governments controlling the two canal
routes, are all bent on holding up the
United States, and the question with
the president is whether he shall throw
over negotiations with Colombia anu
get into a possible worse miX-up with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
AS one member of the administration
put it, the question is whether to break
with one set of robbers to fall into the
clutches OF another band of thieves. II
the state department had the power
to make treaties with both parties and
play one against the other, it might
secure a concession for reasonable
Indemnity. But the Spooner bill does
not give power to the president. he
is to secure concession from Col
ombia if possible, and If not, report
to congress and then negotiate with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
The fact that Costa Rica is holding
back, refusing to designate any figure
she is willing to accept in exchange for
a concession. indicates a purpose to
strike for an outrageous price when the
Panama route is abandoned and the
Nicaragua route is accepted. The de-
partment has sought to learn what con-
ditions Nicaragua and Costa Rica will
demand for concession IL 1t should
abandon the negotiations with Colon
bia. Nicaragua has named most reas-
enable terms, but it has been impos-
sible to secure even an approximate
price from Costa Rica, and the presi-
dent hesitates to let go of one prop
osition for another that is quite as in
definite.
There is no fear that Germany or
any other European power will pur-
chase the Panama canal. The German
governments denial of the rumor that
lit was negotiating for the concession
from Colombia completely cleared up
that situation. But the state depart
ment never had any reason to suspect
Germany. The rumor never was cred
| tied by Secretary Hay or the president,
| and it was never discussed by the cab
met.
The whole trouble is with Colon
bia. 1t will not agree upon the indem-
nifty. The negotiations are at stand
still, and promise to remain SO for
some time to come. There is little
prospect of a canal treaty before the
close of this session of congress. But
the appropriation does not lapse with
this congress. 1t is a continuing ap-
preparation, and Will stand just as do
continuing appropriations for river and
harbor Improvements.