New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-14
THE CANAL MUST BE DUG
so THE PRESIDENT SAID.
lind No Further Trifiug by Colom-
bra Would Haze Been Tolerated


Washington. Nov 13-For several weeks
President Roosevelt has had IN preparation his
annual message to Congress. 20 be presented al
the opening Of the regular session on the first
Monday Of December That part OF che ulessags
in which he discussed the negotiations between
the United States and the government CT Colon
bia for an fsthrian canal treaty. it Is said. was
compIeted about two weeks ago Events which
have occurred on the tsthmus ard II this eoun-
Try since that time have made II necessary FOR
him completely TO rexrite the part % the mes
sage dealing with the canal negotiations
In the opening sentence Of his discussion Os
the negotiations with Colombia the President
said.
Irezret 20 report that contrary 70 all expeeta--
lions. the government OF the Republic OF tolof'l-
bia refused ratify the treaty Tor oll-'lll-s .
canal across the Isthr1us OF panama
Then. after saying that the treaty had BEEN
negotiated at the earnest request Of the gov
eminent OF Colombia and subsequently was Dis
approved by the Colombian Senate. the PRESS
dent said that the powers exercised BY tns
United States under the treaty Of 1916 were 81
large in the protection OF transit across thss
isthraus that IL sometimes had been questioned
whether II was necessary now to obtain 'Fea'1
for the purpose Of building a canal Continuins-
he wrote.
High authorities on international law hcica
that the canal can be dug as an inclcenL % -
z-cist~- rha nov-sr to prevent the obstruction q
traffic across the isthnUs- Eeverthelsss- IN a.
cordance with our settled po-lcy % 49, -
with scrupulous fairness and Ssneros-ly .oSa--
cur weaker sister republics OF ire solln laAllS
no position that even by lmpllcaLoh .
treated as unfrIendly- unless lleEatS -1--g--
thereto We have endeavorsd 70 provide Tor me
buiIdirz OF the canal BY treaty n IIls tI@@ly
We went as far as Il IS possible for rs 20 go =
as-f~e concessions to rha
United states Of Colombia No further CONFESS
sions can or should be made By this goVernrren~-
The President then said that the circur1-
stances OF the canal case were peculiar Ihs
canal he said. must be dug T. was demanded
bv the interests Of this nation and b. those oc
TIRE civilized world The United States had
soIsnnly pledged its word that IL should be fres
10 the commerce OF the world deserving IN
ourselves merely the right 70 see that IT shalE
never be used to our military disadvantase' IA
continued
A private company which the past u-de-took "a
build the canal failed The events Of the last Few
wears warrant Us IN now sayiag not only thaS tha
canal shall not b. foreign govern
uueut but that Is 10 be constructed By any
private company u therefore. De dug b. the
government Of the United states
Referring further along 10 the territory b.
sected b. the canal. he wrote.
On tae one hand the United states desires safe
guard with seruDOus the interest and Ehe homer
Of such country roCntries- On the other hand n
nv Indictment il Is tfEs declare t1t the beginning
Of the canal cannot be much longer delayed Tbs
,.,- oes nor desire 70 unreasonable inpate1t.
Bot il cannot and viii not permit any body OF men
permanently to obstruct Of the great world high
WAYS tra5cs ard refusal 70 permit the building %
the canal amounts such obstruction OF course To
insist mon unreasonable terms i equivalents 70 re-
fusal-
Abiding 70 the phrase OF the spoOner law
which saws that the President shall have
reasonable time" TO determine as between tha
Panama and Nicaragua routes. he wrote
Reasonable tine in the case OF such an enter
rriza a. this an enterprise which has been
+roI1rhr OF for nearly four centuries. which has
been planned in detail and worked az Tor nan 4
century and which when completed vii endure
for ages and will change the geography OF =
hemisphere and the trade routes o. ll7 "O----s
rust OF course. mean whatever time IS neces-
sarv 70 convince ourselves that the course y ,
aresfouowtng IS wise and proper
II seems evident that in matter such as this Ve
sbould finally decide which Is the best route. and e
the odvantages Of this route other possible
rovte are sufficiently marked. should then give
notice that longer submit TO trifns or n->
sincere dealing o., the part Of those whom the acci-
aeur Of position placed in temporary control %
.b4 ground through which the pass. thss
u they viii come agreement with Is in straight
forward fashion shan return act not only win
Justice. with generosity; and that y THY EALL.
TO CONE TO SUCH AGREEMENT WIKI Z. VIZ
NTTsr FORTHWITH TAKE THE MATTER MO OUR
OWN HANDS