Evening journal., 1904-01-04


ment TO show that the intent Of the CON
gress was TO insure canal across Pan
anna and that whether the republic
granting the title was called New
Granada Colombia or Panama mat
tered not one whit. As events turned
out, the question OF reasonable time"
did not enter into the matter Mt all.
Although, as the months went by. Il
became increasingly improbable that
the Colombian congress would ratify
the treaty or take steps which would
be equivalent thereto. yet all chance
for such action on their part did not
vanish until the congress closed at the
End Of October, and within three days
thereafter the revolution in Panama
had broken out. Panama became an
Independent state, and the control Of
the territory necessary for building the
canal then became obtainable. The
condition under which alone we could
have gone to Nicaragua thereby be-
came impossible Of fuldllment II the
pending treaty with Panama should
not be ratified by the senate this would
not alter the fact that we could not 90
10 Nicaragua. The congress has de-
,ided the route, and there is no alterna-
tive under existing legislation.
When IN August Il began to appear
probable that the Colombian legisla
ture would not ratify the treaty, il be.
came incumbent upon me to consider
well what the situation was and to be
ready 10 advise the congress as to wha.
were the various alternatives Of action
open 10 us. There were several posi-
biliiies. One was that Colombia would
az the last moment see the unwsdom o.
hor position. That there might be moth
ing omitted Secretary Hay. through the
minister at Bogota. repeatedly warned
Colombia that grave consequences
might follow from her rejection of the
treaty Although It was constantly
diminishing chance. yet the possibility
Of ratification did not wholly pass away
until the close of the session OF the Co.
lombian congress
A second alternative was that by the
close of the session on the last day OF
October, without the ratification of the
treaty by Colombia and without any
steps taken by Panama. the American
congress on assembling early in No.
vember would he confronted with r
situation IN which there had been
failure to come to terms as to building
the canal along the Panama route. and
yet there had not been a lapse of n
reasonable time-using the word rea
sonable in any proper sense-such as
would Justify the administration goina
to the Nicaragua route This situation
seemed on the whole the most likely
and as a matter Of fact had made the
original draft Of my message 10 con.
gress with view to its existence.
Colombia Exceeded Her RIGHTS.
II was the opinion Of eminent inter
national jurists that In view of the
fact that the great design of our guar.
antee under the treaty OF 1916 was to
dedicate the isthmus to the purposes Of
interoceanic transit and. above all. TO
secure the construction Of an inter.
oceanic canal, Colombia could not un.
der existing conditions refuse to enter
into proper arrangement with the
United States 10 that end without VIC.
lating the spirit and substantially re.
pudiating the obligations of a treaty
the full benefits of which she had en-.
ioyed for over fifty years. My inten-
ton was TO consult the congress as 10
whether under such circumstances il
/ would not be proper TO announce that
the canal was to be dug forthwith. that
we would give the terms that we had
! offered and no others, and that If such
terms were not agreed to we would
enter into an arrangement with Pana
! ma direct or take wha. other steps were
! needful in order to begin the enterprise
A third possibility was that the PEG.
S pie of the isthmus. who had formerly
p constituted an independent state ana
( who until recently were united to Co
! lombia only by n loose tie of fedora
= relationship, might take the protection
of their own vital interests into thciI
2 own hands, reassert their former rights
+ declare their independence upon Just
2 grounds and establish q government
J competent and willing 10 do its share In
T this great work for civilization. This
. third possibility is what actually oc
CURED. Every one knew that il was 4
2 possibility, but it was not until toward
the end of October that it appeared to
5 be an imminent probability. Although
the administration. Of course had spe
. cial means Of knowledge. no sucl
. means were necessary in order TO an
0 preciate the possibility and, toward the
end. the likelihood Of such a revolution
B airy outbreak and OF its success. II wa.
{ a matter OF common notoriety Quota
j. tons from the daily papers could be in
e definitely multiplied TO show this stat,
Of affairs. A very few will suffice
b From Costa Rlca on Aug. 81 n specia
was sent to the Washington Post run
j. ming as follows:
San Jose. Costa Rioa. Aug 81
Travellers from Panama report the isth
g mus alive with fires Of a new revolution
| Il is inspired, 81 IS believed. by men VII,
IN Panama and Colon have systematicail,
eneendeTed the pre- american feeling 1,
IS secure the building * the isthmiau ce M
q by the United States
The Indians have risen. and the late FOL
"a lowers OF General Benjamin Herrera en-
i mastering IN The mountain villages pre-
paratory 20 Joining So an organized revol
e ceused b the rejection OF ths cana
10 treaty.
Hundreds % stacks Of arms. conhscate,
IT. py the Colombian government al th
o. close OF the late revolution. have reap
H. peared from some mysterious source srt
:, thousands Of rifles that look suspiciousi,
hHe me mausers the United States cap