New-York tribune., 1903-03-09
CANAL TREATY CHANCES.
DANGER OF 1HENDHENT.
Anriety Ocer Proposition for 1bs0-
lHte Control.
fn1 1rrrGrArn 10 HE rr1r1xE ]


Washington. Marcn S-Wiu the TJaC7oorors
hold up the Panama Canal treaty. hv seeking Z"
amend IT 70 give the United states ah-
soIute control Of the zone Of the land through
which the canal IS to run. with the right TO
rortift IT This Is the question. --hil \ l@ftt7g
Republican leaders ar" asking this HE"r.ifls. hrr
to which no definite answer is "ht4inI!"-
Senator German an other pr0miD"-' Demo
Gratis say they appr~ctat" that The American
penpIe want an isthnfan canal controlled hT the
United Stat-s. and that the party EShirh d"lays
tho construction OF such Il canal VII I@ s"EHr'.y
criticised Nevertheless they ar" Teru.t'lrg the
impression to hecom. current thar rhsg ar~ pre-
pairing support senator M"rEaus "hler
amendment. outlined above. and fha ir1rress!o1
occasions concern To tE@. friends Of % canal
Such an amendment has received careful con-.
sideraton by the Foreign Relations committee
ond has been positively rejacteI. a. jaoPardizfns
the treaty The most effective argument against
any Amendments Of the present agreement -
that the Colombian Congress. elected March ..
would he certain to follow the precedent so
established. and still further am~nf the cove
nant. thus po<tponing the possible Exchange Or
ratified copies until the United states Senate
had passed on the Colombian changes. next win
ter The acceptance Of the treaty as negotiated
UouId If is believed be followed by Ike accept
arca on the Part Of Colombia. thus enabling a
conclusion Of the diplomatic P-Hltn:nartes with
In a few months.
II IS urged moreover. that Il would 10 intpns-
sihle for Colombia. acting within the provisions
of her constitution actually - part With po7-
tion Of her territory. and the process oT '0nSti-
tutfonaI amendment I'm II country is attended
with even greater difficulty than here While
the dcsfrabiIity OF absolute ownership is adj
n7ftted IT Is further held that the arrangement
provided IN the convention would serve every
essential purpose. would afford the United states
possession. universally admitted to be nine points
in the law. and were Colombia 70 become IN
easonabIe subsequent to the American 0cCu-
patton OF the zone and the investment OF a large
amount in the construction Of the canal popu-
lar sentiment would DO certain to uphold such
measures as tho United States might fnd neCes-
sa7v 70 protect it's rights. A prominent and
well posted South American diplon- {. refer
ring 10 the position Of the opponents of the Co
lomhi4n treaty. said to a Tribune representative
to-day
1t would 70 most unwise for the United states
to seek further control Of the Colombian terri
tory than that guaranteed tT tho treaty nov"
hefore the Senate Most of The South American
countries. though Interested in rhA construction
or tn" lsrhmi1n canal. would view with aFPFA-
hension insisrence hy the Tnired states IN
the absolute sovereignty over terrI+"ry ~. me
southern continent. The Influence Of This conn
try its South American neichh0rS is largely
due to the halaf that the United States will not
only protect their autonomy from European g
I gressors. but Will refrain from territorial aC-
Gusftion in that direction herself S'TCh control
Of q portion OF Colombia NAV he necessary 70
insure the safety Cf rFe canal Teers with aH-
prOval hut the lrGuirament Of territory IS an
integral part Of the United St1roE would ha
looked upon with grave mIsEiEt1ES
Under the provisions Of the r-ertv THIS eari0-
try acquires the use and control fo- rha r.rn =
one hundred years. renewable at th@ soIa and
absolute option Of The United States for periods
Of similar duration. long as Tho TINTED S.tte-s
NAV IL sire Of the desired of rarrfforl. art
II is further provided thar III" Tritei states
shall have authority 70 protect and make SECURE
the canal and 70 make and enforce -rash police
and sanitary regulations as 1T may deem na'as-
sarv'' and also to establish ju';l~flI tribunals
etc
The tre~tv has b@er 50 framed. saw the Re
puhIfCan leaders rs 70 guarantee n this country
every essential prflfsge and. at the same time.
=, avoid violation Of thl- constitution self
respect of Colornhff. T-n1a- these circumstances
ir IS hold that arv concerted effort 10 amend
the treaty. 10y Tho Darro~rsrfc parfy In the Sen
ate can only 10 regarded as q deliberate attempt
70 postpone final r.-ifrattn1 at least until Con-
gross meets in regular session next December
The Comn?ittee FOREIGN Relations hopes to
report the Colombian treaty. to the Senate to-
morrow bur oven If that is accomplished its
CONSIDERATION may NOT begin until Tuesday.
Under the ruI,S IF tho Serf.H it must liz the
table for oua dav after h-irE reported. unless
there is unanimous consent to the contrary, and
II is anticipated that S-rator Morgan will raise
the pcint Of order II inne1I4ts consideration "a
proposed