Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-11
THE |STHM|AN CANAL
Hopes Of the Nicaragua Party
Revived.
WANT, TREATY BEATEN
ALLEGED SCHEME OF THE COLON
BIAN OPPOSITION.
Regarded in This Country as Dishonest
President Marroquin's
Attitude.
WANT, TREATY BEATEN

President Marroquin's
! Attitude.
The announcement that the Colombian
canal treaty may be ratified by the presf-
dent of Colombia instead of by the Colon
| bian congress has come as a complete sur
! prise to the friends of the Nicaragua canal,
who have been looking forward to the con-
test in the congress of that country when
| the subject of ratification should come up
| in that body. The idea that President Mar
roquin might take the matter in his own
hands under some Interpretation of the
constitution of his country giving him ex-
| traordinary powers in times when the coun-
try is in an unsettled condition had never
before been discussed or even suggested to
them.
It has not yet, 1t is understood, been en-
| tirely settled that this course will be pur-
| sued, but the condition of affairs in Colom-
bia and the known strong opposition to the
| treaty by men who will be influential in the
| congress to be elected leads these men to
! the belief that the suggestion which has
| gone forth is very likely to be adopted. 1t
| has been understood for long time that
| powerful influences would be at work to de-
feat the ratification of the treaty. The pres
| ent situation gives strong incentives for
| such action to many influential people in
| Colombia. In the fall of 1904 expires the
last extension granted by Colombia to the
| new Panama Canal Company for the COM
pletion Of the canal, failing in which the
! entire property will revert to the Colombian
| government, which will then be in posi-
| ton to negotiate for it's sale independent
of the French company. Under the present
arrangement the United States is to pay
$5O,Ooo,OOO for the property. of which sum
Colombia is to get s10.O00,000. 1t has been
| argued by some of the Coombians that if
| the treaty is not ratified by the Colombian
| congress, and If the concession of the
| French company is allowed to lapse, then
that country will be in a position to enter
| into negotiations for the disposition of it's
| property on vastly better terms to the gov
eminent than those obtained by the pending
| treaty.
Scheme Regarded as Discreditable.
| 1t is understood that the State Depart
ment has from the time this suggestion was
| made regarded it very questionable
| proceeding and one that men Of integrity
| would not approve. The administration has
| been inclined to regard 1t distinctly dis
| honest and merely as a subterfuge to cheat
| the stockholders of the French company
out of property to which they are clearly
| entitled
| So far as the incentive of the Colombians
| is concerned, their motives have been inter-
preted as being based purely on prospective
gain, with little regard for anything that
might be considered equities in the case.
They have divided in counsel because they
have not agreed to the course that
should be pursued in order to get the most
from their canal.
In view Of the fact that the Panama Rail
| road Company would revert to the Colon
bian government with the balance of the
canal property and would yield large rev.
enue, the compensation that the govern
vryi11 tyaf frnp fho frop Of fhn
tire property to the United States does not
seem so large to many of the Colombians.
So far the Panama Railroad Company
is concerned, it is believed by very many
that if that road should be worked to the
very best advantage in attracting traffic it
could be made to produce net income far
in excess of that which 1T yields at the pres
ent time. There have been all sorts of ru-
mors as to the influences that have operat-
ed to prevent that road from coming into
more severe competition with the transat-
lantic roads of this country.
Attitude of the Nicaragua Party.
So far as the Nicaragua canal people are
concerned the action of Colombia is of in
terest only so far 1t obstructs action in
relation to the pursuance of work on the
Panama canal by this country. They do not
look forward to termination of the con-
cession Of the French company with any
Idea that this government will then be able
TO get better results Dy Qeallng directly
with Colombia in acquiring the rights to the
canal. Senator Morgan has always con-
tended that If this government should want
to build canal at Panama the only salts
factory way in which 1t could be estab-
lished in that work would be to have its
dealings only with the sovereign power OF
Colombia. But there is little doubt that the
friends of the Nicaragua canal project have
looked for the non-action of Colombia in
reference to the treaty ratified by this
country, because they have felt that such
non-action would warrant the President of
the United States in going ahead under
the legislation passed by the last Congress,
with the work of building canal ON the
line Of the Nicaragua route.
The President was authorized to proceed
with the building Of the Panama canal, pro-
vided satisfactory agreements could DC
made within a reasonable time" If such
satisfactory agreement could not be made
within reasonable time" then he was
authorized to go ahead with the construc-
ton of the Nicaragua route soon he
could conclude arrangements for that pro-
ject. If the Colombian congress should re-
fuse to ratify the canal treaty negotiated
by Secretary Hay and ratified by our Con-
gress, it was thought the President could
not fail to go ahead with the Nicaragua
project. Nicaragua has had an ample
soaring and it is understood she is not in
any mood to place hindrances in the way
of having the route through that country
adopted Nicaragua has always been rea-
sonabIe in her demands, it is said by those
who favor that route and treaty could be
negotiated and ratified in very little time If
this government should wish to undertake
the work there.
Alleged Dangerous Precedent.
If the United States should accept the
ratification of the Colombian canal treaty
by President Marroquin instead of by the
congress of Colombia, 1t is claimed that
most dangerous precedent will have been
established. 1t Is pointed out that many
conditions may arise under which other
governments might enter into all sorts OF
treaty arrangements with South Ameri-
can governments through the presidents OF
those countries at times when 1t might be
claimed that unsettled conditions of the
countries would warrant such course
This is especially urged because those who
resent the proposition that President Mar
roquin alone can ratify the canal treaty
claim that they cannot discover any provi-
sion in the translation of the constitution OF
Colombia that could rightfully be inter-
preted as giving the president of Colombia
that power. Section 20 Of article rs of the
Colombian constitution says, in relation to
the functions of congress: ITO approve or
reject treaties entered into by the govern
ment with foreign powers