Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-07

anna railroad company or any extern
sion or modification thereof, and it
likewise renounces, confirms and
grants to the United States, now and
hereafter all the rights and property
reserved in the said concessions which
otherwise would belong to Colombia at
or before the expiration of the terms of
the ninety-nine years of the conces-
Sions granted to or held by the above
mentioned party and companies, and
all rights, title and interest which it
now has or may hereafter have in and
to the lands, canal works property and
rights held by the said companies I'M
der said concessions or otherwise ac-
quired or to be acquired by the United
States from or through the New Pan
anna Canal company, including any
property and rights which might or
may in the future, either by lapse of
time, forfeiture or otherwise, revert to
the republic of Colombia under any
contracts or concessions with said
Wyse, the Universal Panama Canal
company, the Panama Railroad COM
pany and the New Panama Canal COM
pany.
hedoy IN FOurIeen years.
The aforesaid rights and property
shall be and are free and Released from
any present or reversionary interest in
or claims of Colombia, and the title
of the United States thereto, upon con-
summation of the contemplated pur-
chase by the United States from the
New Panama Canal company, shall be
ahcn1f1fa 60 70 ~ h
lie of Colombia, excepting always the
rights of Colombia specifically secured
under this treaty.
Article %. If it should become neces-
sary at any time to employ armed
forces for the safety or protection OF
the canal or of the ships that make use
of the same or the railways and other
works, the republic of Colombia agrees
to provide the forces necessary for
such purpose according to the circum-
stances of the case, but if the govern
ment of Colombia cannot effectively
comply with this obligation, then, with
the consent of or at the request of Co
Iombia or Of her minister at Washing
ton or of the local authorities, civil or
military. the United States shall en-
ploy such force as may be necessary
for that sole purpose and as soon as
the necessity shall have ceased will
withdraw the forces so employed.
Under exceptional circumstances,
however, on account of unforeseen or
imminent danger to said canal, rail-
ways and other works or to the lives
and property of the persons employed
upon the canal, railways and other
works, the government of the United
States is authorized to act in the inter
est of their protection without the ne
cessity of obtaining the consent before
hand of the government of Colombia,
and it shall give immediate advice OF
the measures adopted for the purpose
stated, and as soon as sufficient Colon
bia forces shall arrive to attend to the
indicated purposes those of the United
States shall retire.
Article "a The government of the
United States agrees to complete the
construction of the preliminary works
necessary. together with all the auXili-
airy works, in the shortest time posi-
BILE. and within two years from the
date of the exchange of ratification Of
this convention the main works of the
canal property shall be commenced,
and it shall be opened TO the traffic be-
tween the two oceans within twelve
years after such period of two years
In case. however. that any difficulties
or obstacles should arise in the con-
struction of the canal which are at
present impossible to foresee in consid
Grafton of the good faith with which
the government of the United States
shall have proceeded and the large
amount of money expended so far on
the works and the nature of the diff
culties which may have arisen the gov
eminent of Colombia will prolOng the
terms stipulated in this article up to
twelve years more for the completion
of the work of the canal. But in case
the United States should at any time
determine to make such canal practi-
cally a sea level canal then such period
shall be extended for ten years further.
Cash Payments to Colombia.
Article % As the price or compensa-
ton for the right to use the zone grant
ed liz this convention by Colombia to
the United States for the construction
of a canal, together with the prOprie-
tary right over the Panama railroad,
and for the annuity of $25O,0O0 in gold,
which Colombia ceases TO receive from
the said railroad. as well as in compen-
sation for other rights, privileges and
exemptions granted to the United
States, and in consideration of the In
crease in the administrative expenses
Of the department of Panama conse-
Iuent upon the construction of the said
canal. the government of the United
States binds itself to pay Colombia the
sum of 100000 in gold coin of the
United States on the exchange Of the
ratification of this convention after its
according to the laws of the
respective countries, and also an an
nual payment during the life of this
of $250,000 in like gold
eoin, beginning nine years after the
late aforesaid.
The provisions OF this article shall