West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-01-08
WA sHINGToN TER.
Trouble ever The Big Canal Pro-
jects and The Monroe Doctrine
The Agriculture Report Shows The
Largest Crops the Past Year Ever
Garnered la the United states.

The Agriculture, Report Shows The
Largest Crops the Past Year Ever
Garuered In the United states.
Form our Regular Correspondent
WAsHINcToS, January 9, Ioo3.--
A serious menace to the Monroe
Doctrine has appeared on the
horizon of American affairs, as a
result of the casuistic diplomacy of
Secretary of State Hay. Senior
Concha, former Colombian, Minister
to the United States, has returned
to his country and is there promot-
ing campaign against the ratiiica-
ton of the canal treaty which his
successor, DIR. Herrara, is endevor-
ing to negotiate with the United
States. Colombia claims that she
is now receiving an annual income
of $500, 900 from the zone of land
which the United States demands as
a sine qua non to the completion of
the canal. This amount may be
somewhat exaggerated, but it is
known that the Panama Railway
pays the Colombian government an
annuity of sa5o, 900 and from the
exhorbitant charges made for every
privilege accorded to commerce 1t
is reasonable TO assume that the
exaggeration is not great. Secretary
Hay is endeavoring to secure the
leasehold at much lower figure.
1t has already been decided that the
amount fixed in the treaty is to
stand indefinitely and that the United
States is to receive century lease
with the privilege of renewal at its
pleasure, the only question remain
ing to be determined being the
annual compensation.
The menace to the Monroe Doct-
rine lies in the following argument
which Senior Concha is advacing.
He urges the sale of the canal privi-
lege to Germany, who already con-
trolls large portion of the trade of
South America, and who would be
greatly benefited by the ownership
of the canal. He says this course
could not be construed as violation
of the Monroe Doctrine because,
when it was urged that the Colombian
constitution forbade the relinquish-
ment of any portion of her territory,
Secretary Hay pointed OUT that
there was no REIMBURSEMENT of terri.
tory in the granting to the United
States of perpetual lease. Colon
bia, according to Secretary Hay,
would still be the owner of the
territory. The same argument must
apply equally to Germany and there
is little reason to believe that Ger
many would be as 10th to pay a fair
value for the privilege as is the
United States. 1t may be said that
the United States will build the
canal along the Nicaraguan route,
argues Senior Concha, but that would
not prevent Germany's completing
the Panama canal which offers many
advantages among them the suscepti-
bility of completion years before the
Nicaragua canal. Colombia would,
of course, cede no territory to
Germany, only lease it, and so there
would be no violation of the Monroe
Doctrine. Thus it would seem that
further delay on the part of the
Secretary of State or of Congress
might result in the formers being
"hoisted by his own petard."
ttt
After days of anxious and pains
taking labor, the President is being
forced TO realization of the utter
impracticability of expecting states
manship from the leaders of his
party. After concluding a treaty
with Cuba which, however unfairly
its benefits may be distributed in the
United States, certainly secures for
this country benefits out of all pro-
portion to the concessions allowed
to Cuba, the President is learning
that 1t is not injustice to any Ameri-
can industries that is at the bottom
of Republican opposition to Cuban
reciprocity but a selfish determine
ton not to permit the lowering Of