The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-16
Senator CullOm, After Conference
With President, Says Prospect
for Treaty Ratification Is
Discouraging.
NEW PROCEEDING PROBABLE.
Division of Panama May With
draw From Colombia and
Treaty Made With the = g.
New Government.

Washington. Aug 15.-Doctor Herran. CO.
lombia's Charge dAffaires. is much dis
turbed over an interview with Senator Shell
by NJ. Cullom of illinois, who, as chairman
OF the Foreign Relations Committee. spent
considerable time with President Roosevelt
at Oyster Bay yesterday, discussing the
outlook for a Panama canal.
After leaving the President Senator Cul-
lon was asked: What is the outlook for q
treaty with Colombian"
at does not seem to me encouraging"
was the reply.
do you regard the contemplated action
Of the Colombian Congress. in amending
the treaty. as killing it,"
such action would certainly make the
task Of perfecting the treaty a very diff
cult one. l understand that it is proposed
to make seven or eight or nine amend
ments to the treaty, and 1t may come
back to US in very unsatisfactory form.
In that event will the administration fol-
low the isthmian canal law, and having
failed to negotiate a treaty. with Colombia,
turn to the Nicaragua route?'
L do not think We are ready to abandon
Panama yet-not by any means. What will
be done Is a matter for discussion and con-
sideration after the Colombian Congress has
'But If the United States Is being held up
for. greater payments than it is willing to
make ms how can the canal be butt without
We'll. we. might make another treaty
not with Colombia. but with Panama"
But Panama is not sovereign State and
Is only q department of Colombia.
"Intimations have been made that there
is great discomfort on the isthmus over the
action Of the Congress- Of the Central Gov.
and set up a Government which we could
as the United, States prepared to en-
f Rsnn5lic such schism in South American
wants to build that canal and build it now.
needed by the whole world. The treaty is
blocked by a country that has been treated
well by US and there are very Weighty con,
which make azk US so ss Se unas all
taken at the earliest possible minute.
Senator Culloms. talk would indicate
that il Columbia amends the treaty so that Il.
subject may be treated in an entirely new
way by the President in his message to
Congress.
Another conference was held at the State
Department to-day between Mr.. Loomis,
ran and William Nelson Cromwell counsel
for the Panama Canal Company. Mr..
LOOMS discussed with his confreres the
provision OF the treaty concerning the ques-
lion Of sovereignty. This is the main
Doctor Herran thinks that talk of this
countfy's negotiating a treaty with Pana-i
ma cannot but have bad-effect upon the
sikna4ion at lBogofa. 1t Is felt by Colombia
that the Washington Government would be
only encouraging a revolt by threatening.
while the canal treaty Is still before the
Colombian Congress. to open negotiations
with the Department of Panama In the
event that the treaty is rejected. The In
stitution of such negotiations, would 1t Is
pointed out, constitute formal recogni-
| ton by the United States of the indepen-
dence OF the Isthmian State. which has
been for many years a source Of trouble
to the Bogota Government.
It is believed here that the Panama Ca
nal Company will be entirely satisfied. in
case the treaty fails at Bogota. to transfer
its allegiance to a new Republic, which
would be known as the Republic Of Panama
or North Colombia officials of the com
pany are authority for the statement that
the State of Panama is ready to with
draw from the Republic as soon as the
treaty fails. to organize an Independent
State, appeal to Washington for recogni-
ton and offer to ratify the Hay-Herran
treaty without amendment