The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-04-07
MAY transfer
Canal Concession
REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA DE-
FEATED IN CASE AGAINST
PANAMA COMPANY.
Last Obstacle to Transfer of Property
to United States Removed-Presi-
dent and Attorney General Discuss
the Matter Carefully.

Paris, April 1.-The irst civil tri-
bunal of the Seine has decided the
case of the republic of Colombia against
the Panama Canal company in favor Of
the defendants. The decision holds that
the complaint of Colombia is not re-
ceivable and condemns the plaintiffs to
pay the costs of the action. This de-
cision has the effect of removing the
legal obstacles in the way of the
transfer of the canal concession from
the company to the United States.
No More Cause for Delay.
Washington, April 1.-President
Roosevelt and Attorney General Knox
had a conference subsequent to the re
| ceipt of the information that the gov
eminent of Colombia had lost its sui
in the French courts against the ne"
Panama Canal company. and tina
there was no longer any reason for de-
lay in the transfer of the cOmpany's
concessions and property tc the United
States. They discussed carefully the
facts of the situation. At the coll
clusiou of the interview, Attorney Ger
eral Knox announced that there was
now no more reason for delay than
might be occasioned by the transfer
of a title of a 20-foot lot in Washing
| ton.
All Obstacles Removed.
The attorney general said that the
government had been proceeding Oh
the assumption that the French court
would take precisely the action it had
taken and that at no time had very
serious consideration been given to the
proceeding instituted by Colombia. He
added that the action of the French
court had disposed of the last legal OBJ
stacle in the way of the transfer of the
canal company's property.
Matter of Courtesy.
| AS a matter of courtesy to the French
court, the canal company had refrained
from calling a special meeting of the
| stockholders until the case pending
had been determined. The attorney
general thought it likely that a call for
| such a meeting would be issued soon
by the company. How long it might
be before the meeting could be held
under that call, he could not say, but
the meeting would ratify the transfer
of the property and concessions when
it was held.
Transfer of Stock.
w. A. Davis and Charles w. Russell,
| the assistant attorneys general who
| have gone to Paris to assist in the trans
fer of the property will remain there
| until the transfer shall have been COM
pleted. They will supervise, for the de-
partment of justice. the holding of the
stockholders, and the transfer of the
stock. They likewise will obtain COM
plete inventory of the property of the
company which is to pass to the United
| States.
Payments at Same Time.
The dissolution of the Panama
Canal company, SO far as the transfer
of the property to this country is con-
cerned, probably will take place in the
latter part of April. The payment of
$40,000,O00 to the company will be
made about that time. 1t is not likely
that the payment of the $4,000 600 to
the Republic of Panama will be made
prior to that to the canal company. 1t
| is the view of the president and the
attorney general that the TWO pay
ments should be practically concurrent.
This is their Interpretation of the legis-
lation bearing upon the matter and of
that ratified with the government OF
Panama.
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