Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-20
COLOMBIA MUST DECIDE
CONGRESS OF CENTRAL AMERi-
CAN REpusLlc coNvENEs
TO ACT ON TREATY.
Unless that Country Ratifies the Doc
ument, the United States viii Break
Of Negotiations and Look for Other
Canals.


The Colombian congress convenes to
day, but in official circles here this is
not regarded as bringing the Panama
canal treaty any nearer ratification,
for the opposition to it is reported ex.
traordinarily strong, despite the efforts
Of President Marroquin and the other
supporters of the treaty. There is ev.
cry likelihood that there will develop
in the Colombian congress fully as pro-
tracted debate on the treaty as there
was in the United States congress
when Senator Morgan prevented ratifi
cation for weeks.
According to the news from Bogota
the opponents of the treaty will base
their objections to its ratificatiuns
upon the theory that the French com.
pany has no rights and has nothing to
sell. The original concession granted
to that company expired in 1898, and
was renewed by President Saclamente
upon the paymeunt of $1,000,000 He
accepted the money and the company
accepted the concession, but the trans
acting was never ratified by the Colon
bian congress and is held to be an un
finished proceeding. The renewal OF
the concession has never beeen sub
mitted. In fact, there has been ne
meeting of the Colombian congress
since it was granted. The country has
been in state of revolution all the
time.
For these reasons the opponents o.
the treaty hold that the concession
which the French company is now sell
ing to our country for $40,0O0,000 i!
ILLEGAL, and therefore worthless, anc
that 1t is not becoming in the Colon
bian congress to participate in such ;
fraudulent transaction. They CLAIM
that under the terms of the origina
i concession all the property and right
of the French company reverted to tn
Colombian government upon its exp
ration in 1898.
Furthermore, these opponents O
ratification declare, if it should b.
held that the extension of the conces
siQn by President Saclamento was le
gal, 1t expires in the spring of 1906
less than two years hence, and it il
bad policy for the United States I,
pay $4O,GOO,OO0 for privileges whicl
run only two years. According to tn,
terms of the extension, if the cana
is not finished by the spring OF 1906
all the property, rights and privilege
OF the French company revert to th,
government, which would then be a
liberty to dispose of them at the bes
advantage. The United States thel
would be compelled to trade with tn
Colombian government instead of tn
French company. In other words, tn
opponents of ratification are of tn
opinion that they can divert into tn
Golfers Of the Colombian governmen
the $4,000, 600 which it is now pre
posed to pay the French company.
Meanwhile the proceedings of tn
Colombian congress will be watche
with the greatest interest here. If
shows an earnest purpose to conside
the treaty, a due allowance of tim
will be made by our government.
there is an evident purpose to della
ratification beyond reasonable time
then the treaty negotiations will b
abruptly terminated. and the Pres
dent will proceed to carry out the mex
instruction of congress. namely, /
arrange with Nicaragua and Cost
Rica for the acquisition of cana
rights.
| Nineteen horses started In the de-
by. The Picket tsix to one) wor
Claude second. Bernays third. Tim
2:33, breaking the wohld's record.
| --------- o.
!