New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-12
PANAMA REPORTS AND RUMoRS.


Our Washington dispatches yesterday threw
some further and decidedly interesting light
upon the Panama business from the Bogota
end of the line. The report Of the Colombian
Senate Committee on the killing Of the Hay
Herran treaty and the authorizing of a new
treaty viii give a little comfort to those who
have been exhibiting Colombia in the sym
pathetic role OF an injured innocent. 1t shows,
on indisputable authority, how sOrdid and
venal were the motives behind the rejection Of
Americas generous offer for the canal cOnces-
sion, and shows. moreover pretty plainly that
If there had been no revolution at Panama and
# this government had patiently awaited the
pleasure of Bogota for the negotiation of an
other treaty we should presently have been face
20 face with a condition more truly revolving TO
moral sense than any great Democrat pre-
tends the present situation TO be to his unique,
camel swallowing and gnat straining sense of
shame.
Briefly stated, the Colombian plan, as con-
sessed by the highest Colombian authorities,
was 10 delay matters until, by hook or crook,
Colombia could confscate the French canal
cOmpanys property and then sell ii TO the
United States for round price. The decision of
the United States TO pay the French company
S400O0O00 for its property was too much for
the cupidity OF the COlombians. The thrifty
patriots at BOgOta wanted that S40O000O
themselves. They needed it I'm their business.
il would be maddening 10 see It go 10 a parcel
of Frenchmen. So they proposed TO have their
Congress pass upon the validity-that is TO say
deny the yalidity-of the extension OF fran
chise which was granted 10 the French COM
pany In 1900 until 1906. There was all the
more provocation TO do this since the Colon
bans are believed TO have got none of the large
sum paid in 1900 for such extensiOn-some of
their creditors in Paris were too shrewd 10 LET
that round million escape. If, then, the fran
chise could be forfeited at once, Colombia
would become owner OF the French companv's
property without paying a cent for it, and
would be able to say TO the United States: "You
''were willing 10 pay the company $4,000 600
'for this. Now what Will you pay us for tt?'
Moreover. If it were found impracticable or
impolitie to forfeit the franchise now they
would only have 10 delay things until 1906
when the extension would expire with the canal
still unfinished. Then the franchise would
lapse and the 'slick" game could be played
without challenge. Really, IL would have been
interesting 10 see what would be done or said
in such a case by the stern moralists who re-
gard the recent action OF our government as
the most shameful in all our history!
Concurrently with this exposition OF Colon
bian "cuteness" comes another rumor of the
sending Of troops for land campaign against
Panama. II may be true. Some people have a
fOndness for seeking the North Pole. The
sources OF the Nile were fascinating goal for
many. We once knew a man whose chief pas
sion IN life was TO descend into the craters of
volcanoes. Each 10 his own taste IL Colon
bians cannot find happiness outside of the
swamps OF the Atrato. or away from the great
mountain wall that divides their country from
the neighboring Republic OF Panama, we sup
pose their tastes must be INDUCED. But some
indulgences incur heavy penalties. Our adj
venturous Colombian friends will do well TO
bear IN mind that the United States is entirely
in earnest I'm fits determination not 10 have the
territory through which the isthmian canal is to