The Washington times., 1903-08-18
General Impression That
Adverse Vote in Senate
Does Not Mean Certain
Rejection of American
Treaty.
NlCARAGUAN ROUTE
AS AN ALTERNATIVE
Law is Mandatory But Ad-
miniStration Will Not Act
Until Negotiations With
Panama Have Failed.

As The Times first announced to
Washington yesterday afternoon. the Co
accept the proposed American canal by
a vote taken last Wednesday,
Subsequent disclosures have served
only to bring into question the fnality
of that action and to give ground for a
belief that under Colombian law the ac-
tion Of the senate may be rescinded. In
view Of that possibility 1t is generally
accepted that any action toward con-
structing the Nicaraguan Canal as an
alternative must yet wait on more com
plete and clearer advices from Bogota
Dr.. Herran Still Hopes.
Dr. Thomas Herran, charge of the Co
lombian legation, is decidedly of the
opinion that the ballet taken was mere
ly preliminary, and in this view it is
understood he is backed up by William
Nelson Cromwell the attorney of the
Panama Canal Company, who advances
the view that the vote is to be taken
as an expression of dissatisfaction with
the original draft of the treaty. and not
as indicating that the senate will not
accept the treaty in amended form.
DR.. Herran received last night sec
ond cablegram from Bogota, stating that
the Colombian senate had refused 10
confirm the canal treaty by unanimous
which was last Wednesday. and the ca
blegram was dated the 18th, and was
thus four days on the way.
DR.. Herran does not regard this news
as conclusive of the rejection of the
treaty, but says that the vote must have
been simply one OF the legislative steps
preceding final action. He hopes 10
hear in a day or two of the final ratin-
cation II is known that one-third OF
the Columbian senate is favorable 10 the
treaty under almost any circumstances.
That the vote was unanimous supports
the inference that ii was simply a pre-
liminary one. refusing to accept the
treaty in its present form. DR.. Herran
states that he expects the senate TO vote
for the treaty with cerain embodimenJs
which will make no essential difference
the Panama Canal
Officials Taciturn.
The meagre character of the informa-
tion received at the State Department
leaves the officials there little to say
and none will give any opinion on the
matter. Assistant Loomis is not at his
desk and Assistant Adee, who is the
recognized authority on all diplomatic
methods and proceedings, declines "a
give any opinion as to what might be
done in the event that the treaty is re-
iected. The dispatch from MlListes
Beaupre was sent to the President and
TO Secretary Hay.
In case it shall prove correct that Tho
treaty has been rejected 1t Is doubtful
whether any steps will be taken al this
time by the President TO revive IL 4
close vote would offer some hope for
reconsideration, and in that event II Is
intimated that DR.. Herran would :alyC
the initiative and request Secretary Hay
TO sign a convention extending the date
for exchange Of notifications, September
% being the date fixed for the exchange
When the news was conveyed TO the
President at Oyster Bay no statement
as TO his attitude was issued for publ
cation.
The trend of editorial comment today
is that the Panama route is not neces-
sary TO the United States. while the
Colombia II she wants a canal. II seems
to be accepted that America can have a
canal without going to Panama for it,
but Colombia cannot have a canal IN
less America builds 1t.
The question of price does not enter
into the consideration of the treaty at
this stage of the proceedings, according
to the Colombian minister's adyices
The only difficulty In the way OF q
speedy disposition Of the whole matter
is one of sovereignty and jurisdiction
This II Is confidently believed Will be
settled favorably and the treaty. witt
the necessary amendments TO secure the
arrangement OF the matter OF sover-
eighty, will pass the senate by a strong
ote.
The view taken by the senate was
at Val idLtt " mat Atiu ~ AAAC 5OF
eminent Of Colombia. which felt salts
fed when 81 submitted the treaty Il
congress that there would be no m
pairment OF Colombia's sovereignty il
the treaty should be ratified. Incidental
70 the general question Of sovereignty
necessarily was that % n lease OF thu
strip Of land through which the cana
was TO be constructed. and the debate
in the Colon bian senate indicated thai
that body regarded this as amounting
to 4 sale OF the land. and therefore Oh
/ iecttCnnblc.
When the treaty was submitted to the
senate by the committee to which II had
been referred seven Of the senators fav,
ored II. with certain amendments which
they proposed. and the remaining TWC
opposed It absolutely. The amendment.
proposed by the majority are no
known here, but they evidently referred