The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-19
Hay and Bunau- -Varila Aflx Names to MOmGntOus
 Paper at Washington
MUCH SIMPLER THAN THE
 HAY- -HERRAN DOCUMENT
Terms Are Not Yet Given Out, But 1t Is Believed That the Power Given to the United States
 Is Sweeping.

Washington, November 1S.-The Hay Bunau-Varilla Isthmian canal treaty was signed this evening at the residence of Secretary Hay by the Secretary and Philippe Bunau-varilla, the minister from Panama.
 The treaty, in it's text, cannot be made public at this moment first, because of the unwritten law which obliges the state department to await the pleasure of the senate in the matter of publicity, and second, because the President has not yet determined when the convention shall be submitted to the senate for ratification. His present purpose is to withhold it until there shall be reasonable assurance that it's consideration will not obstruct any of the legislation for which the pres ent special session of congress has been called.
 But certain facts have been disclosed as to the provisions of the treaty which make is appear that in its general lines the new ay-Bunau-Varilla convention is patterned upon the failed Hay-Herran treaty with the exception that the new convention follows not only the spirit. but the letter of the Spooner act.
 Perpetual Lease.
 Thus, instead of the lease for fixed period of the canal strip, this new treaty provides for a perpetual lease or the right of way to the United States and in- stead of a complicated provision Tor courts of mixed composition-half Amer lean and half -esuf~nfbian--to-- administer justice over the canal strip, the new treaty permits the United States govern-
 ,1afa ri lietion thereupon. The United States may fortify the line and the terminals and t may police it with troops. The money consideration is understood to be the same, only Panama, instead of Colombia, S to receive the ten million dollars, and The canal is to be neutral and open to all nations on even terms
 These are understood to be the terms of the new treaty, which is much simpler In form than the failed Hay-Herran treaty. and has been specially drawn to meet the objections urged against the latter.
 Keynote of Treaty.
 The keynote of the treaty is the pro- vision in one of the very first articles by which Panama cedes to the United states whatever land or lands throughout the renubic of Panama this government shall find desirable in connection with the huilding or the operation and mainte- nance of the canal. In addition the treaty gives to the United States abso- lute sovereignty over the canal strlp' which 1t Is understood comprises between eight and ten miles on each side Of the canal. With this zone the power of the Tinted States is as absolute as if the zone were part and parcel of this country
 Tho cities of Panama and Colon retain their municipal autonomy under the re- public of Panama so long as they main tain public order and sanitary condition to the satisfaction of the United states. Failure to do this. gives the united states according to the treaty, the right to force etrict compliancG with the wishes of this government in this direction and the Tinted States can enforce or compel obe- dience of It's rules for public order and public health in these cities.
 The treaty further provides that the canal is to be neutral and open to all na- lions on even trms.
 New Treaty Preferable.
 Secretary Hay had conference with the Panama minister late last night, ana the general terrls of the treaty were agreed upon
 undecided as to whether the treaty should he an amended form of the Hay-Herran convention, or an entirely new paper. This point was decided at luncheon at inc secretary's house today at which were present Secretly Root, Attorney General Knox and a amber of leading senators. Their unanimc us opinion was that an en- tirely new tr aty would be the most fa- voraby ceived by the senate.
 The contention of the Washington gov ernment that the capital of the new re- public be not located in either Panama or Colon, was not pressed by Secretary Hay, when he found that the Panama government was earnestly opposed to it, and the treaty makes no such provision. This is the only point in the negotiations which caused even the expression of a difference of opinion.
 No time will be lost by Panama in rati- fving the new treaty. Whether the rati- dcation will be made by the government at Panama or whether the commission which arrived here tonight will be cabled powers to ratify it, has not yet been determined. The exchange of notifications