Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-07
PANAMA CANAL TREATY.
A Belated Message Received
From Minister Beaupre.
SITUATION UNCHANGED
HIGH OFFICIAL SEES NO PROS
PECT OF RATIFICATION.
The Colombian Minister Retains Hops
Effect Of Recent Action Of
the Panama Senator's.

The Secretary of State this morning re-
ceived belated cable message from Min-
lister Beaupre at Bogota, showing, how
ever, In the language of a gentleman who
read IL, mo advance in the movement for
the ratification of the canal treaty" The ]
message bore date of Bogota September 2, !
and its news may have been discounted |
by subsequent events of which the State !
Department is still in ignorance. The text :
of the message is withheld for the pres
ent. 1t is known, however, that the stated
ments made in 1t show no particular changei
In the situation, and call for no further !!
action on the part of the administration. 4
Attitude of the Administration. Z
Secretary Hay recently instructed Mine
lister Beaupre at Bogota to reiterate to the,
government of Colombia the statement,
made previously by him that the United
States will not accept any modification or,
amendment of the Panama canal treaty.
Mr.. Beaupre was told to make 1t clean
that President Roosevelt, by whose aui
thority the instructions were sent, was
obliged to be guided by the limitations Of
the law authorizing the construction Of.
the canal, and that he regarded the terms
given by the United States as the most
liberal that could be obtained by Colombia
within the scope of the law. h
The spirit of the instructions is that CO.
stands or lose the opportunity of having
the United States build the canal in It's
territory. IL
Action of Panama Senators. 81
Anxious over the reports which have.
reached Washington that the delegates'
from the department of Panama have with,
drawn from the sessions of the Colombian
congress at Bogota, DR.. Thomas Herran.J
the acting minister of Colombia here, has
telegraphed to the governor of Panama fors
information on the subject. DR.. Herran'
discredits the report, as the advices from
his government have given no intimation OF
such action. The three senators from Pan
anna, with one exception, and he was bits
terly opposed to the treaty, and the siH,
members of the house of representatives,
have aSsiduously worked for the ratiflcati toni
of the treaty. Their detection at this time.i
DR.. Herran realizes, would be q serioua
blow to the prospects for ratification. The
one Panama senator who has opposed the,
treaty never has lived in Panama, although
elected to the higher body from that de-
partment. The detection Of the Panama
delegates. it is suggested here, might be iDI
the nature of protest over the attitudei
or the opposition to the treaty, with the.
possibility of secession from the nationa1l
government :.
DR.. Herran still clings to the hope that a,
way will be found whereby the PRESENT.
treaty will be ratified. He lays much stress
on the possibility that the senate may agree
to measure to be subsequently passed by,
the house, where there is said to be a m4sl
1or1ty for the treaty. giving President Mar.!
roQuin authority to negotiate directly AMI
instrument along the lines of the PRESENT.
treaty President MarroQuin is known toj
De heartily In favor Of the treaty as 1t notVl
IS drawn, and II he were duly authorized
to do so the confident belief of Dr. Herran1
Is that the treaty would be ratified
Regards Treaty as Dead.
high official of the State Department,
has expressed his opinion that the Panama.
canal treaty is practically dead, notwith,.
standing there is still possible chance OF
favorable action upon it by the Colombian
congress up to the 22d instant. II
Ofhcial advices received here convey tho
Intelligence that the friends Of the treaty.
at Bogota have practically abandoned theiri
efforts in the interest of ratification. and
some OF them have departed for their
homes. These advices are taken to mean
that the representatives of Panama to the !
colombian congress will represent to their
government the advisability of seeding
from the central government and taking up
the negotiations with the United States for
the building Of an isthmian canal Al
though Panama does not control the entire
proposed canal strip the intimation is made
that she has devised a means whereby thia
may be accomplished.
May Be Beginning of Revolt. ~
Rumors> from Panama are to the effect
that the departure of the delegation from
Bogota may be the beginning Of the revo-
luton which is said to be on foot for the
purpose of establishing a separate govern.t
mediate construction OF the Panama canal
treaty possible