New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-11
COLOMBIA'S DUPLTClTY.
WHY TREATY WIS KILLED
Proposed to COnfscate Canal Prop
erty and Sell 1t to United States
frRon TIE rnIRrxE nnasAr-I

Washington. Dec 10-CoIombia's dishouo7
and the venality OF the elements al Bogota that
rule the country are being revealed in a manner
that efTectuaIly disarms the opponents Of the
Washington administrations policy regarding
the Republic of Panama and clinches perma-
nent support Of the new republics Independence.
Quickly following the disclosure in the Presi-
dents annual message on Monday OF the des-
perate proposals which he quotes from IAN emf
nent Colombian" and which exhibit the general
moral obliquity that killed the Hay-Herran
treaty in order TO attempt further blackmail.
comes a delayed report from Minister Beaupre
10 the Department OF State dated az BOgota.
October 10, giving the text OF the Colombian
Senate Committees report on the project OF law
to authorize a new treaty.
shorn of the customary verbiage of such
Latin American documents. the Congress OF Co
lombia proposed TO condscate she property OF
the French Canal Company and 10 dispose OF it
TO the United States at discount. This a
frank official revival of the fnsinuation put for
ward quietly but persistenty by CoIoulbians and
antagonists Of the Panama route in Washing
ton for the last two years. holding that the
French concession was worthless contention
that was efectuaIly quilted TO the satisfaction
OF the United States when Attorney General
Knox went to Paris. and after an exhaustive
examination declared the French title worth
$4OOOOOOO.
The report Mr.. Beaupre incloses was read IN
the Colombian Senate on October II. It begins
with a declaration OF Colombia's desire TO have
a canal constructed across the isthmus. and
recital OF the steps which have been taken by
Colombia in the last seventy years to secure
canal II is asserted that the Hay-Hezran
treaty was unanimously rejected. mot with
view OF opposing so great and necessary a work,
but from the highest and fairest motives"
frf-l 30.
right OF Colombia TO reject the treaty. The re-
port then discusses the bill on which IL was
based, which. in brief. had two Objects-tO sus-
tain the Senate's rejection Of the treaty and
to authorize the President to draw new treaties
or have the work done by private contract A
legislative argument is presented TO sustain the
contention that it is unnecessary TO ratify the
/ Senate's rejection. AS to the second PROPOSE
tiOn. il is declared that the proposed authorize
tiOn TO the President Is unconstitutional. de-
priving the President OF his right 70 initiate and
conduct negotiations The law also is held to
/ be unnecessary-
/ A novel point is made TO the effect that as the
/ Hay-Herran treaty authorized the Panama
/ Canal Company to transfer its rights. and he
treaty has failed. the conditions are as they
were before the treaty was drawn. and the
canal company cannot sell It's rights. but rnusr
fuldl its contract to build the canal It is held
that the eonpany's franchise win renlaln IN
| force until October next, when the republic
/ VIII become the pOssessOr and owner without
any Leed Of a previous judicial decisian. nd
without any indemnity OF the canal itself and OF
tie adjuncts that belong to IL. according the
| cGatract OF 1878 and 1900
TIE committee argues that after that date the
republic can make more advantageous terms.
/ legally and materially wherefore IL IS said
| that it is the duty OF Congress 70 pass on the
validity OF the extension OF the cOmpany's fran
/ chise for six years granted in 19OO which has
been attacked. The conclusion Of the committee
/ is that further consideration OF the bill before
/ Congress be indefinitely postponed.