Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-17
Colombia Rejects the Canal Treaty.

The rejection of the canal treaty by the
Colombian senate news of which has just
come from Minister Beaupre at Bogota,
probably puts an end to the present ne
gotiations. although 1t is not safe. In the
absence of detailed information and assur-
ances of the impossibility of a reconsidera-
ton, to venture a confident estimate OF the
future. The course of communication with
the Colombian capital is tortuous- The d g.
patch just noted was dated August IL. the
message therefore having required at least
four If not five days in transmission. 1t
had to be taken down to the coast by
courier, and from there sent by wire to the
isthmus, and thence carried along by one
or more relays. So that since the action
of the senate was taken much may have
happened to change the case.
1t may be regarded as unlikely that the
United States will permit the radical
amendment of the treaty. Perhaps 1t was
with a knowledge of this fact that the
Colombian senate preferred to reject 1t al
together rather than attempt to change
it's terms only to be later informed that
this course was impossible. The payments
promised by the Hay-Herran agreement
are considered here as liberal in every
sense. For this government now to try to
conciliate Colombia by granting larger
sums would open up an indefinite prolonga-
ton of the negotiations and disgust the
people of this country with the Panama
proposition
There remain two possibilities with re-
gard to Panama that the legislative body
upon realizing the uncompromising attitude
of the United States, may reconsider its re-
lection; or that the isthmian states. feel
ing aggrieved by the refusal of the govern
ment at Bogota to consider their welfare,
may set up an independent government
with which the United States could later
deal directly for the grant Of the necessary
privileges and territory. The second pos
sibilty is not to be seriously considered at
present. Such a solution through an insur-
rection would entail indefinite delay and
would perhaps precipitate a war between
the United States and the old Colombian
strip. 1t would weaken the prestige of the
United States throughout Central America
and perhaps South America as we'll 1t
would give Europe the impression of this
government driving a sharp bargain and of
fomenting the revolution in order to get
the canal title cheaply. 1t Is not at all
probable that the United States which has
acted most honorably In the premises
throughout. would undertake to encourage
or to countenance the splitting of Of any
part of Colombia, even for its own ad-
vantage.
The more probable result of the final re-
lection of the treaty by Colombia Is the re-
opening of final negotiations with Mica
ragua and Costa Rica for the construction
of the canal on the Nicaragua route. The
President has sufficient authority to resume
these negotiations Immediately upon notih-
cation that Colombia has declined to ratify
the Hay Herran treaty. His powers in the
case are based upon the provision of Con-
greSS that in case Colombia does not grant
the necessary lands, privileges, etc. within
reasonable time and upon reasonable
terms he shall forthwith acquire the essen
tials for the construction of the canal upon
the other route. No further action by Con-
gress is needed than the formal ratification
by the Senate of such treaties as the Presi-
dent might cause to be drawn with Mica
ragua and Costa Rica. 1t appears to be
definitely understood that those countries,
while unwilling to be used as a whip to
bring Colombia into line, stand ready to
grant Immediately terms which are quite
acceptable to the United States. 1t is to be
presumed that Colombia's senate has re-
Jected the treaty with the full knowledge
Panama. Whether the legislators at Bo-
gotta think that Uncle Sam Is bluffing must
remain for later disclosures to indicate
here we know full well that it is extremely
unsafe for any foreign government to pro-
coed on that theory.
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