New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
F4V0RS CANAL TREATY.
MARROOUIN,S MESSAGE.
Strong Influences at TTork for and
against Ratification.
TTRoM TEE TRrnrNE EUREAu.l

Washington, June 27.-Dr. Thomas Herran.
who signed the Panama Canal treaty with Sec
retary Hay. is highly encouraged by the terms
Of President MarroQuin's message 10 the Co
lonbian Congress favoring the ratification Of
the treaty DR.. Herran has received no official
advices from his government regarding the
reaty's prospects. but his familiarity with To-
cal conditions in Colombia leads him to the be-
lief that the campaign Of education which IS
oow being conducted by the friends OF the
treaty is likely 70 result IN its rat3hcat ton al
though there are admittedly many forces ear
nestly working against il II his message Presi-
dent Msrroquin said:
To NY government has been presented this
dilemma: Either II lets our sovereignty suffer
vsntages TO which. according to the opinion OF
many. have q right In the first case 10
consent 10 the sacrifice Of our sovereignty and
NOT aspiring 10 q great decentralization, the
Just wishes Of the inha bftants OF Panama.
large portion Of ombia-would be satisfied if
The canal we're opened. but the government
would be exposed to the charge afterwari that
il die not defend our sovereignty and that II did
not defend the interests OF the nation. In the
second case. If the canal is not opened by Pan
ANA The government will De accused OF not
having allowed Colombia that bene6t which IS
regarded as the beginning Of our agEran6ize-
men-- I have already allowed my wish to he
Understood that the canal should be opened
through our territory. ! believe that, even Al
such cost Of sacrifices. we ought not 10 put OBJ
stacles TO such grand undertaking. because il
IS al Immensely beneficial enterprise for the
country, and also because. once the canal is
opened by the United States. our relations viii
become more intimate and extensive. while our
industry commerce and wealth viii gain in
calcula bly,. leave the full responsl bilIty for
the decision Of this matter-at frst-for Con-
g-ess I do not intend to make opinion weigh
when 7 have given Instructions to our repre-
senraIives al Washington; i has been coupled
with the order that the decision Of this i'm
rortant matter must be left for Congress.
After years in which the question has been
-,l r. -r-z ~rrf f-ga41- IL
tions, il is presented in q way 10 obtain
practical and positive results. II has been our
indisputa bic triumph that the Senate and the
government OF the United States should declare,
Notwithstanding every effort 10 the contrary, the
superiority Of the Colombian route.
In discussing the political influences now at
work IN Panama both for and against the
treaty Dr. Herran enumerated as for the treaty
the present administration, the representatives
Of the French Panama Canal Company and the
French diplomatic representatives Against the
treaty. are the secret agents Of American rail-
way and steamship ines. who are just now
s7varrning around Panama. posing in the ca
pacity Of mining engineers and capitalists Then
there are what Dr.. Eerran terms the honest
jingoes," who really believe that Colombia
would be compromised by the ratification OF
the treaty. ADDED 10 these are the professional
politicians, who seeking by delaying "a tiff
cation 10 share IN the profits. The former revo-
lutionsTy forces are also considered an lnTiu-
ence against "a jfcation the ground that 10
put S10000000 directly in the hands Of the
present officials would place them in an impreg g
nab bic position. Finally. II is believed that a
Potent influence is being exerted against the
treaty by the diplomatic representatives OF GER
tain foreign nations, including those Of South
American republics. whose trade interests would
naturally be affected.
On account Of the absence Of more conpre-
hersive reports Of the battle between all these
forces Dr. Herran declares il TO be practically
impossible to give up 70 date opinion as TO
the present status Of the fight or the outcome.
As the regular session Of Congress begins on
July 20, ratification should be accomplished
within three weeks. Attention is directed TO
the significant clause In President Marroquln s
message leaving the full responsibility OF the
decision TO Congress '-at first