The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-15
The lsthmian Canal.
No Prospect That the Panama Route
Will Be Abandoned.

Will De ADduOOuSO.
The New York Times" reflects, no
doubt, spreading popular conviction
when it pictures as practically newt
able the failure at Bogota Of the ca
nal treaty with Colombia. The Co
lombian congress is to meet on June
80. By the terms of the convention
signed by Secretary Hay and Minis
ter Herran notifications must be ex-
changed on or before September %.
The opponents of the treaty have
therefore a fight of less than four
months TO make to kill a compact
against which a formidable national
prejudice has undoubtedly arrayed It
self.
Were there ample time for com
batting and dissipating this prejudice
the Times" argues, the Colombian
congress might be brought to see the
folly of rejecting the Hay-Herran
bargain-with its tempting bonuses
and rentals-in the vague hope of
forcing the United States to still more
generous and more unwarranted con-
cessions. But so misunderstood is the
true situation that avarice on the one
hand and misguided patriotism on the
other may easily defeat ratification
or delay it beyond the last day of
grace September %.
Under these circumstances our New
York contemporary is disposed to
consider the building Of the Colon
Panama canal a virtual impossibility
Even should the State of Panama
outraged by the indifference to its
isthmian interests shown by the ma
tiOnal ongress-secede and offer as
an independent sovereignty the right
of way which the United States needs
and asks for, the "Times" holds that
certain uncalled for ex cathedra dec
larations in the Hay-Herran compact
would estop this Government from re-
cognizing or dealing with a seeding
isthmian republic. 1t is true that the
canal treaty now awaiting ratification
contains this rather mystifying def
milton Of the general policy Of the
United States toward its southern
neighbors:
The United States freely Acknowledges and
recognizes the sovereignty LOT COlombiRl and
disavows any intention TO impair il in any way
whatever or 20 increase its territory at the
expense Of Colombia or Of any Of the sister
republics in Central or South America; but
the contrary, it desires 70 strengthen the
power Of the republics on this continent. and
10 promote. develop. and maintain their pros
perity and Independence.
What this means exactly-as we
have on previous occasions pointed
Out-nO one knows But we do not
take it that it guarantees the integ-
rity of each and every South and Cen
trail American State against division
through revolution. 1t would not re
quire the United States to suppress a
successful rebellion in Panama, and
to restore that state to the control Of
the Bogota authorities.
Moreover, if the present treaty
fails Of ratification this country will
be rid of moral responsibility for this
foolish declaration. And it will be
perfectly justified in treating with an
isthmian state for privi-
leges denied it by a congress incap-
able Of approaching the wants and in
terests of the isthmian region.
We do not look for an abandon
ment Of the Panama project. If all
negotiations with Bogota fail, we
look rather for the severance Of those
ties-already merely nominal-which
bind the state of Panama to the rest
Of the Colombian republic.