The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-23
SENATORS OPPOSE THE TREATY
President May Fail 10 Secure Endorse
nent on Isti7nIian Affair.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 23.-The
mama treaty will be beaten. If it is
beaten new history will be written for
the United States
The failure of the treaty would place
the administration III a most awkward
predicament and ore which would ie
gally demand the SrOoner act, which
provides imperatively the Nicaragua
canal as the alternative of the Panama
canal
There would be fTo escape for the
administration this tire because the
president has settle,f the matter OF the
phrase 'reaeonable time, in the Spoon
er act, for considering the Panama ca
nal route. by taking the matter out OF
the hands of ColoTHbTa.
In order to still deal with Panama,
if tive treaty We're beaten, the presi-
dent would have TO resort to the revo-
'lutiouary methods of provoking war
with Colombia so as TO secure the alb
solute independence Of Panama, then
deal with Panama or have congress by
joint resolution annex the republic of
Panama as territory.
The adjournment of congress without
having resented the acts of the presi-
dent leaves the president free hand
to proceed as he pleases with the navy
and army against Colombia
1t is not known here whether the
republicans are with the president on
these acts, which have been declared
to be acts of war. and therefore lille
gal. or whether leading republicans,
such rs Hanna and his clique, are anx-
ious to have the president proceed
further and kill himself politically.
Senator Hanna and Senator Spoon
err certainly created tile present dilem-
ma for the PRESIDENT:
The situa ton on the isthmus is peri
lously near an armed clash between the
United States marines and Colombian
troops.
The Atlanta and the Bancroft are
lowering around the, Gulf of Darien
Their orders are to turn back Co.
lombian troops, and the marines are
bians if they attempt to cross the
frontier J. lend
one of = gravest dangers of a sud-
den war is rat many Colombian troops
are on board the Colombian cruisers
Cartagena and Pinzon, and the first
fight may therefore be naval fight.
Firing on the American cruisers
would. of course, be Immediately ac-
cepted as declaration of war by Co
lombia although the ordinary course
of diplomatic procedure, would be to
ask an explanation from Colombia.
If the intention of this government
is to have the Panama route at all
hazards, it is evident that an attack by
Colombia would be the thing most to
be desired, and the United States YES
sells have such orders as will make
conflict practically inevitable.
1t is learned from official sources /,
that the PRESIDENT will pay no attention
to the important fact that the United
States miniser to Panama, Mr.. Bu-
chanan, has not been confirmed legally
by the senate.
Senator Morgan made the point Sat
urday and the republicans were unable
to combat it.
Special commissioner.
This government will rely on the
credentials of Mr.. Buchanan. The in !
side news from the state department
is that Mr.. Buchanan bears credentials
as special commissioner" and it |
will be held that he can act under these !
credentials. even if he were never con-
tirmed by the senate.
The chances are that Mr.. Buchanan
has two sets of credentials, one pri- |
vate as special commissioner. and the
other as minister plenipotentiary. He
cannot act in the latter capacity, al |
though he will arrfge at Panama early
this week. |