Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-18
HEPBURN OF IOWA
- nf.s!
Interested In Colombia's Re-
10 -cnolr
= fusA I'd Ratify Treaty.
IS NOT DISAPPOINTED
BE11Eyf Is . Nc. THE ONLY
REAL ROUTE FOR CANAL.
He Win NOT Talk, but Somehow His
Enoyn Views Find an
Outlet.
IS NOT DISAPPOINTED

| Representative Hepburn of Iowa. who Is
regarded as baAsnf. the best-posted men on
the subject Of an interoceanic- canal and
! whose eftprtsefoE the Nicaragua canal in
the House were as, strong for years as those
of Senator Morgan in the Senate. is in
Washington. aud Is much interested in the
\ refusal OF the congress of Colombia TO rati-
| fy the treaty giving to the United States
the Panama canal after certain terms and
conditions have been complied with But
Mr. Hepburn won't talk. for the newspa-
pers, He could say lots of things. and say
them as only s'Pete" Hepburn knows how
concise. bright, accurate and interesting
| Mr. Hepburn,'-it may be said ON good au-
thorfty, however, Is not as intensely dis
| appointed at the action Of the Colombian
| congress as some uniformed people might
| suppose For publication he won't even
admit that this is true
| Possibly his Nature to feel disappointment
| Is due to the fact that he is still an ardent
believer in the Nicaragua canal as the only
| real route for a canal connecting the two
! great oceans Of the world. He believes now
| as he has for years, that the Nicaragua
canal would be the best for all concerned
| and particularly for the shipping interests
! OF the United States, because 1t is so much
nearer the coast Of the United States This
| proximity to gulf ports would reduce the
distance between gulf and Pacific coast
| ports OF this country for the round trip of a
| Vessei more than one thousand miles 1t is
| claimed. -
Did Colombia Do Rightp
There are a good many well informed men
in public life In the United States who do
not feel that Colombia acted wrongly from
| her own standpoint. 1t is pointed out as
! most interesting fact by students of canal
! affairs that.<aal the facts to the contrary
| 1t is practically true that the Panama canal
with all that pertains to It, will probably
pass 70 colombia as her own property next
| year; that Is. the franchise Of the Panama
Canal Comphny over the property lapses
| next year ana, according to the terms of
the document, reterts to Colombia.
~ mas Deen claimed by the Panama Conf
| pany that the Colon bian government waiy-
ed the forfeituExs of the franchise. and At
torney SApeEal Knox, in his exhaustive
study Of the title to the canal, appeared to
| noid thateShis was true. officials of the
colombian government. however, hold that
| there has never been any legal or binding
agreement'fo waive this forfeiture. and it
IS confidently elaimed that the Colombian
| government WIFI claim the property upon
the expiration Of the franchise next year
/ If this claim should be made and success
| fully maintained by Colombia to the end,
the title 70 the canal will pass to Colombia
as gov4Fpment
Foblishtto Have Ratified.
If this position is taken by the Colombian
governnept anAs people, 1t is pointed out
| as clear that thH Colombian congress would
| have been hnpa9fiotic and disloyal to have
P Ps1des ws5s wnieh is likely to
short. tine ne. for the comparatively small
by the United States. The tinted eds states al sa
So for IT'S rights r ana tit e'n ao ,hs
p pro per G End to the Colombian government
This placed valuation on the property
| of $50 100000, which Colombia has probably
| wisely taken into considera ton. If this is
| the value of the property, and the United
Stat ties is willing to pay that much for it.
why should Colombia part with her share
| for $1O0OOOU now when year from now
she may be able to convince this country
| that she owns the property throughout and
that 1t is worth sc. 100000? Should this
| theory be advanced by Colombia the posi-
| ton will probably soon be made known,
| The action of the Colombian congress in
| providing that the negotiations for a treaty
should be reopened leads to a superstition
| that Colombia believes she has some good
| cards up her sleeve. 1t Furthermore con-
| veys an impression that so far in the great
poker game she has had with the United
States she has held the best hands and
| prayed them 10 her own satisfaction.
A Battle Of Millions
What attitude this country will take
while Colombia and the canal company
fight battle in which fifty millions is in
volved no one in Washington now knows
The administration leaders must get to-
gether and determine whether they will
POSTPONE further action for the present or
| whether. having failed in their efforts with
| Colombia they win now renew negotiations
| looking to the building of the canal through
the Nicaragua route. The fight for so
| many millions VIII be a hot one and the
| Panama company will stand ready to spend
several millions and to resort to many
schemes to- prevent the loss of such a
great sum.~''One OF the cards it is said to
stand ready to play in the fight will be to
! bring about a revolution in the state of
| Panama so that canal will pass out of
the hands of Colombia and become. by
right of conquest the property OF new
| republic: of Panama. 1t is declared how
| ever, that this could not succeed fully be-
| cause the United States, by treaty has
pledged herself not to deal with any other
country than colombia In connection with
| the canal, :5s-
| In other words. this country has recog-
| nized Colombia as being the only country
| which it will negotiate with in connection
with the canal By sheer force of power
| the actual possession OF the canal might
pass to and remain in possession of new
republic but could this country deal with
| the new republic for the canal in view of
| the alleged promise of recognition to CO.
1ombia only?' This question could neces-
sarily not beSanswered except by the most
/ competent government authorities and Dos
| sibly after years of negotiation legislation,
| etc -.,x~
Nicaragua~Advocates Jubilant.
The net Sespltss of the situation. there
| FORE areioto, make. the advocates of the
Nicaraguaa canal somewhat jubilant at this
| time. and to hope that the United States
| will soon hid that it's clearest course is to
make all 4frangelpents for the building of
| that canal" One thing is certain. and that
| Isl that the maneHvering on the great canal
chess board wflfbe fast and important dur
| ing the next year OF so. and that there will
| be involved the people of several countries
| as we'll as Several countries themselves
n Iva Tfssss--.s -
Movements Of Naval Vessels,
The Navy Department today received
| word of the folloBing ship movements:
The YillaAoboe has left Hankow for Nan
kin; the dispatchfboat Dolphin has left Oys-
| ter Bay fan Newport: the Scorpion has left
\ -. f4r Dr1lx 10. u.