The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-19
STRIKE WAS LUCKY
FOR UNITED STATES WHEN PANA-
MA WALKED OUT.
CANAL SCHEME is NOW ON
THAT HAS EVERYTHING UNITED
STATES OWN WAY.

Hax and Bunnu-VarilIa Have Signed
the Treaty-Its Text Not Given,
INIT Its Provisions Are known.
These Are Far More Advanta geOus
To the United States Than Were
Those of the Colombian Treaty.
Early Ratification Expected.
washington, Nov. 1S.-Secretary Hay
and M. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, the
minister from Panama, at $40 o'clock
this evening signed the Hay-Bunau-
Varilla treaty, providing for the con-
struction of the Panama canal by the
United States. The ceremony took
Mace in Secretary Hays study.
Hearty congratulations were ex-
changed and it was agreed
that the news of the signing
of the treaty should be kept
from the public for the present.
President Roosevelt was Immediately
advised of the signing of the document
and Minister Bunau-Varilla sent a
confidential cablegram to his govern
ment stating that the treaty had been
signed.
Washington, Nov. 1S.-The treaty
in its text cannot be made
public at this moment for two rea-
sons; first, because of the unwritten
law which obliges the State Depart
ment 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 is reasonable
assurance that it's consideration will
not obstruct any of the legislation for
which the special session of Congress
has been called.
Facts in the Treaty.
But certain facts have been disclosed
as to the provisions of the treaty
which make it appear that in general
outlines the new Hay Bunau- Varilla
convention is patterned upon the failed
Hay-Herran treaty, with the excep-
ton that the new convention follows
not only the spirit but the letter of the
Spooner act. Thus, instead of the
lease for a fixed period of the canal
strip, this new treaty provides for a
perpetual lease of the right of way to
the United States, and instead of
complicated provision for courts of
mixed composition-half American and
half Colombian-to administer justice
over the canal strip, the new treaty
permits the United States government
to exercise the most complete jurisdic-
lion thereupon. The United States
may fortify the line and the terminals
and it may police it with troops.
The money consideration is under
stood to be the same, only Panama, in
stead of Colombia, is to receive the
Sl0,O00,000 and the canal is to be neu-
trail and open to all nations on even
terms
The keynote of the treaty is the pro-
vision in one of the very first articles
by which Panama cedes to the United
throughout the republic of Panama this
government shall find desirable in con-
nection with the building or the oper-
alton and maintenance of the canal.
In addition the treaty gives to the
United States absolute sovereignty over
the canal strip, which it is under
stood comprises between eight and ten
miles on each side of the canal. With
IN this zone the power of the United
states is as absolute as if the zone
We're part and parcel Of this country.
The cities of Panama and Colon re-
tam their municipal autonomy under
the republic of Panama so long as they
maintain public order and sanitary
conditions to the satisfaction of the
United States. Failure to do this gives
the United States, according to the
treaty, the right to enforce compli-
ahce with the wishes of this govern
ment in that direction, and the United
states can even use force to compel
obedience to it's rules, for public or
der and public health in these cities.
The treaty further provides that the
canal is to be neutral and open to all
nations on even terms.
secretary Hay had a conference with
the Panama minister late last night,
ana the general terms of the treaty
We're agreed upon.
Secretary Hay was at first somewhat
undecided as to whether the treaty
should be an amended form of the
hay-Herran convention or an entirely
new paper. This point was decided at
luncheon at the Secretary's house to-
&ay' at which were present Secretary
Root. Attorney General Knox and q
number of leading senator's. Their
unanimous opinion was that an en-
Llfely new treaty would be the more
Iaxorably received by the Senate.
Inc contention of the Washington
government that the capital of the new
republic be not located in either Pan
anna or Colon was not pressed by Sec
Ietary Hay when he found that the
Fahama government was earnestly OPP
posed to it and the treaty makes no
sucn provision. This is the only point
IN the negotiations which caused even
opinion.
no time will be lost by Panama in
ratifying the new treaty. Whether
Ihe ratification will be made by the
government at Panama or whether the
1o,inmlttee which arrived here tonight
WI be cabled powers to ratify it has
-ot yet been determined. The ex-
SSiHange of Publications will occur in