The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-20
TIE CANAL TREATY
IS IN THE BALANCE
Its Ratification Is Opposed by Some
of the Most influential
Citizens.

| Washington, June 20.-The Colon
| blan congress cOnvenes today but IN
official circles here this is not regard
ed as bringing the Panama canal trea-
ty any nearer ratification. Tor the
| opposition to it is reported eXtraOrdl-
narily strong despite the efforts OF
| President Marraqu-n and TIE other
| supporters of the treaty There is
| every likelihood that there will de-
velOp in the Colombian congress fully
| as prOtracted debate on the treaty as
| there was in the United States con-
| gress when Senator Morgan prevented
| ratification for weeks.
| According to the news from BOgO-
| ia the opponents of the treaty will
| base their objections to its ratification
| upon the theory that the French com
pany has no rights and has nothing
20 sell. The original concession
| granted to that company expired in
| 1898, and was renewed by president
| Saclamento upon the payment of
81 100000 He accepted the money
| and the company accepted the cOnces-
| sion, but the transaction was never
| ratified by the Colombian congress,
and is held to be an unfinished pro
| ceeding. The removal Of the conces-
| sion has never been admitted, in fact
| there has been no meeting of the Co
| IOmblan congress since it was grant
| ed. The country has been in state
Of revolution all the time
For these reasons the opponents of
| the treaty hold that the concession
which the French company is now sci
| ling to our country for $40 900 900 is
| illegal, and therefore worthless. and
| that 1t is not becoming in the COlom-
| Dlan congress to participate in such
| a fraudulent transaction. They claim
| that under the terms of the original
| concession all the property and rights
of the French company reverted to the
| Colombian government upon its eXpi-
ration in 1898.
Furthermore. these opponents of
| ratification declare, if it should be
held that if the extension of the con-
| cession by President SaclamentO was
| legal. it expires in the spring of 1908.
less than two years hence. and it is
| bad policy for the United States to
pay $40 900 900 for privileges which
| y ..
| terms of extension, if the canal is not
| finished by the spring of 1908. all the
property, rights and privileges Of the
French company revert to the gov
ernment which would then be at lber-
| ty to dispose of them at the best ad-
vantage. The United States then
would be compelled to trade with the
Colombian government instead of the
French company. In other words,
| the opponents OF ratification are Of
the opinion that they can divert into
the Golfers Of the Colombian govern
ments the 100000 900 which it is now
proposed to pay to the French com
pany.
Meanwhile the proceedings of the
Colombian congress will be watched
with the greatest interest here. If it
shows an earnest purpose to COnsid-
er the treaty a due allowance of time
will be made by our government If
there is an evident purpose to delay
ratification beyond a reasonable time
then the treaty negotiations will be
abruptly terminated and the president
will proceed to carry out the next in
5tructlOn OF congress, namely, to ar
range with Nicaragua and Costa Rica
for the acquisition of canal rights.