The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-14
THE PANAMA CANAL.



viewed by the French Interests.
From L. Mafi~ Of !sep'.7.
Sept. y, 1908, will bs a historical date
In this Panama question, which can already
reckon up several such dates. On that
day. three weeks from to-day. the period
will end within which the Hay-Herran
treaty, concluded between Colombia and
the United States, must be ratified. If
Colombia regarding only her own interests.
which are also those Of civilization, goes
back on her decision and ratifies the
treaty, then the canal may he definitely
considered as constructed. But II Colombia.
continuing in suspicious delays and in
comprehensive obstructions. finally re-
jects the treaty or introduces amendments
which would upse. its whole construction,
then the unknown opens before us the way
in open to all sorts of combinations.
1t has seemed interesting to us to find
out what these combinations may be. and
to raise the veil that conceals the unknown
1t seemed particularly interesting to define
what the situation would be on Sept q
next, In case Colombia should finally re-
ject the Panama Canal treaty.
The situation Is clear, and President
Roosevelt's duty is indicated by law, the
Spooner bill OF June. 1902. Should the
President" says the law. 'be unable to
obtain q satisfactory title to the property
Of tho New Panama Company and the con-
troll Of necessary territory Of the Republic
Of Colombia" he il then authorized to
open the Nicaragua Canal after having
first obtained. for the United States, per-
petual control by treaty Of the necessary
territory from Nicaragua and Costa Rca
Therefore, III the control Of the necessary
territory OF the Republic OF Colombia
cannot be obtained President Roosevelt
can begin negotiations with Nicaragua to
obtain from 1t by treaty what Colombia
refuses to him. But he must not begin
these negotiations until everything shall
have been tried to obtain the control OF
the necessary territory Of the Republic OF
Colombia Now everything has not been
tried yet.
President Roosevelt. as was his duty,
first tried one method alone, the more
usual one in such cases. namely, that OF
trying to come to an amicable understand
ing with the Republic Of Colombia. He
has at least two other methods that he
may try
He may, In the second place, wait for the
outbreak Of the revolution which. as may
be seen elsewhere in our dispatches, is
smouldering in the State Of Panama, and
until that State declares itself independent.
al it did twice in tho last century, In 1910
and in 1855; then he will have to treat only
with the State Of Panama.
But he may, above all, In the third place,
exact from the Republic Of Colombia itself,
ON the strength Of formal engagements,
what 1t refuses to yield with good grace.
There exists, In fact. a treaty made In
1s4e between the Republic Of New Granada,
the former name Of the Republic Of Co
lombia, and the Government OF the United
States Article IS Of this treaty reads "a
follows:
Tho Government Of New Granada guarantee,
to the Government Of o. United States that the
right OF way or Of Nansit across the lsthmus Of
Panama by all means of mmunication that exist
or may come into existence shall always remain
open and free the Government and 10 the citizens
Of the United States and for the transport OF all
products, manufactures and lawful merchandise
whatsoever belonging 10 tho citizens Of the United
States
The right of way in the legal language
Of the United States is the right OF passage
In It's highest sense; that is to say, not merely
the right of bodily locomotion. but the right
of making all the artificial works needed
for locomotion In any shape whatsoever.
The right of way is in reality the right OF
establishing the works needed for the pas
sage of trains, if 1t is a matter Of a railroad,
and for the passage Of vessels, If it ID a
matter Of vessels.
If our information is correct, 1t is to
this third method. to this legal coercion
exercised on the strength OF treaty, that
President Roosevelt has decided to have
recourse, On order to obtain from the Re-
public OF Colombia the control which it Is
Indispensable for him to have on tho terri
tory needed for the working Of the canal.
No one could blame President Roosevelt
for making use even oil force in order to
obtain that which right secures to him
and which cannot be obtained graciously.
The Government of the United States
has entered upon one Of the noblest under
takings in the world, ono which may well
make any country proud above others:
1t intends to offer to the world, under con-
great maritime way which has been called
justly "the hope Of tho ages and the de-
sire of the peoples, that way already two
thirds built by France and which France,
in consequence of an objectionable error.
has been unwilling to finish herself.
In opposing 80 senseless an obstruction
to the realization Of the greatest progress
that man can carry out in the arrange
ment of our planet. Colombia steps beyond
her proprietary rights. In standing in the
path Of progress she acts like landowner
who, falling back on his rights, should
endeavor to prevent a railroad or a high
way from crossing his domain. The rights
of property of individuals like those OF
nations are limited by the higher right o!
the need of circulation of collective hui
manity.
1t is this higher right that President
Roosevelt has decided to enforce; that he
will enforce In the immediate future.