The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-08-27
THE CANAL TREATY.

The recent news that the Colombian
Congress had refused to ratify the
Panama canal treaty does not prove
to be as disastrous to the enterprise
as may have been suggested at the
time. On the other hand it is stated
in official circles that at no time has
the outlook for favorable outcome
of the Panama canal negotiations
been more encouraging than now.
1t is believed in Washington that the
next dispatches from Bogota wilt an
nounce the favorable action of both
houses of the Colombian Congress,
ratified by the executive, on the au-
thorization of an agreement with the
United States, which means that the
greatest obstacles i'll the way of the
Panama canal have been finally over
come.
There seems to be no doubtfrom the
information received that there will
be no failure of the treaty through
the refusal of the Colombian Con-
gress to sanction an agreement with
the United States. aud cable advices
state that movement for new pro-
position is going forward successfully.
A better understanding of the stu
alton has cast different light on the
action of the Colombian government
and what a first seemed to be noun
tain is in reality only mole hill,
Following is a brief outline of the
recent action of the Congress and the
present status of the treaty.
On the 18th the Colombian Senate
adopted joint resolution providing
for a committee of three Senators to
meet and act with "a committee to be
named by the House of Representa-
tives to draft joint resolution or n
bill authorizing the Colombian eXecu-
tive to negotiate treaty with the
United States, either by modifying
the pending convention or Dy draw
ing a new treaty, and that the condi-
tions which the Colombian Congress
deem absolutely necessary to be en-
braced in the treaty should be set
forth in the joint resolution or bill so
that the executive could make nc
mistake as to his powers and duties.
There was no opposition to this course
of action in the Senate, circum
stance which indicates that there are
not enough votes in that body opposed
to the treaty to block the canal in the
interest of any outside influence.
1t is now shown that there was q
misinterpretation of the first intelli
gence as to the action of the Senate in
refusing to approve the treaty as il
was brought in by the special com
mittee of nine Senators, representing
each of the States in the Colombian
Union. The Senate unanimously dis
approved of the treaty, and proposed
amendments, but did not formally
, reject it. The document is still
before the Senate and the Congress
, and it is the purpose of majority il
both bodies to act favorably on thu
, general proposition to grant to thu
United States the right to construc
, and operate the canal across thu
Isthmus of Panama. The fact tina
, the Senate refused to approve thu
, treaty on the 18th and the next day
q initiated new movement looking t.
r treaty indicates that there is not al
{ implacable opposition to what thu
: United States asks, nor that there is
settled purpose with any formidabl
a number of members of the Senate +
, oppose or defeat an agreement.
a There can be no misgivings as
q the acquiescence of the Colombia
g House of Representative in the action
O proposed by the Senate. There is
clear majority in that body in favo
of the canal. and it is not improbabl
that before this the House has CON
B piled with the request of the Senate
y and appointed committe to act wit
n a committee of the former body.
4 is an important part of the propos
tion under Roadway that when til
i joint committees shall have prepare
bill or resolution providing for
treaty and naming the conditions to |
laid down in the agreement, and ii
II Congress shall have adopted the met
n sure the executive will be empowere
to exchange Publications without agai
4 subjecting the treaty to action by Il
1 Congress. 1t is believed that the
4 will be no delay in carrying the ne
} plan for treaty to a conclusion
( Indeed, there is good reason to su
I pect that the bill or joint resoluti'
\ had been already drafted and W
I ready to submit to the joint commit