The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-20
PLAN TO BUY
 THE ISTHMUS Latest Scheme to Procure Y" Canal. REYTo SsROACHES SUB JECT Y $lama and Colombia Both
 2 to be Satisfied.
In the Meantime It Seems an Armis- tice Has Been Declared and the Treaty Cannot Soon
 Be Concluded.
Advertiser Bureau. Colorado Building.

WaSnln&tOn, Jau ls.
 Senate Democrats were advised at a conference this morning that they expect soon to develope and entirely new canal deal whereby the United States Govern ment is to buy outright from Colombia and Panama the whole canal strip, obtain ing a quit claim deed therefor, in con sideration of a sum of money sufficient to satisfy both the South American re- publics now laying claim to the isthmus
 While this deal has not yet half matur- ed. it has progressed far enough to con- vince several Southern Senators that 1t will ultimately be carried through and prove a settlement of the great question now agitating this country.
 The preliminaries of the trade are be- lieved to be already agreed upon. It Is understood General Rafel Reyes, the Colombian representative who has been in Washington for the past two months to arrange a satisfactory settlement for his country. made a proposition to the Presi- dent and Secretary Hay, the effect of which was Colombia's willingness to re- linduish all claims on the isthmus on con- dition of a payment of $10, 100000 by the United States. It Is said our government replied with a counter proposition. offer ing Colombia $5 CO., 900 in settlement of her claims.
 Still in Embryo.
 This exchange of proposals is as far as the deal has progressed, except that Reyes has transmitted the offer of 6, GOO. 900 to his government and Is now await ing reply from Bogota. Of course, this deal does not consider Panama's claims on the isthmuR, but it is assumed that her rights will be remembered and her in- terests guarded by the administration,
 Panama'a rAnPAaAnfnefvoo ho1raa Automatically expressed the new reDub- lies twiilinGness to be annexed toEtte United States. so that the deal now under consideration would in no wise be opposed from that quarter.
 A significant move in connection with this reported dear is: the fact that tIie Eommitee on. Foreign Relations yesterday rap0rted the HAnRTnz tTeAty to the Senate with amendments that are uniTnportar,t. save for the fact that they will delay tho final ratification for weeks. because the treaty must be sent to Panama for con currence with. the amendments, even if 1t is ratified by the Senate here f
 This delay, it is understood, was ex. pressly designed for the purpose of af- fording time for the isthmian purchase, deal to be tried out at length
 The only action taken by the Demo- cratic conference today was the passage of resolution authorizing Senator Cor man to appoint committee which will present to another conference of Demo- cratic Senators tomorrow morning a res- olution providing that the Democrats will not agree to a vote on the Panama treaty until all the facts relating to the revolution in Panama are obtained.
 Therefore. while it appears on the sur- face that the usual proceedings will con- tinue. it is evident that both sides are unexpectedly delaying matters at this iuncture. and the inference is that an ar- mistice has tacitly been agreed upon for the purpose of allowing the isthmian purchase deal to nave along in the hope that 1t will prove to be a dove of peace for the battlefield.
 The new deal may or may not mature, but it is believed to be on and those in authority are watching eagerly for the outcome. R. H. Watkins.