The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-10-01
CANAL TREATY DEAD.
COLUMBIAN CONGRESS FAILS
TO ACT IN TIME LIMIT.
Time for Ratification of the Hay.Her-
ran Convention Has Expired-Year's
Delay in Sight-Washingt Now
Awaits a New Proposal.

At midnight Tuesday the Hay-Herral
Panama canal treaty became a thing O.
the past. As Tuesday was the last da,
for the exchange of ratitications of tht
treaty, under the terms of the conven
tion, that instrument may be considered
as dead. For several weeks, some news
papers assert, the treaty has been usei
as a blackmailing device for forcing the
French Panama Canal Company to give
up portion of the $40,000,O0O it wai
to receive from the United States for it,
plant, concessions and completed chan
mel. The report that the Colombo Sc
riously contemplated holding up the
United States for larger bonus has new.
er been fully authenticated, although
there was doubtless a disposition to de-
nland better terms from this government,
until they We're advised by the State De.
partment, through Minister Beaupre,
that no better offer would be made for
the canal concession.
The expiration of the time limit for the
ratification of the treaty, and the discus
sion of the probable course of the Presi.
dent and the future status of the Panama
route, naturally call public attention to
the act of Congress under which the
treaty was negotiated. This act was
passed at the first session of the Fifty
seventh Congress, and was approved
June %, 1902. 1t authorizes the pay
ment of S4O.000,0O0 to the Panama
Canal Company for its plant, concessions
and unfinished work. and the requirement
by the President from the republic of
Colombia upon such terms as he may
deem reasonable" of perpetual control
of canal strip. 1t provides for the ap-
pointment of a canal commission to have
charge of construction, for preliminary
appropriation and for the bond issue to
defray expenses.
Section 4, which is now the bone of
contention between those who favor the
Panama route and those who wish the
President to turn to the Nicaragua route,
provides that should the President be
unable to obtain for the United States a
satisfactory title to the property of che
Panama Canal Company and the con-
troll of the necessary territory of the
republic of Colombia, and the rights
mentioned in sections 1 and of the act,
within reasonable time and upon rea-
sorable terms, then the President SHALL"
after having negotiated a satisfactory
treaty with Nicaragua and Costa Rica,
direct the canal commission to proceed
with the excavation of a canal by the
Nicaragua route.
1t is contended by some that the Ian
guage of this section makes it obligatory
upon the President to open negotiations
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica at once,
and that the Panama route must be
abandoned. 1t is difficult to see how
such a construction can be put upon the
plain language of this section of the
canal act. 1t says that should the Presi-
dent be unable to secure the control of
canal strip within a reasonable time
and upon reasonable terms" he shall open
up negotiations for canal treaty with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
What is means by "a reasonable time,"
whether six months or two years, is left
to the judgment of the President. The
Colombian government has signiied
through DR.. Herran a desire to renew