The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-04

ments of the act Of the Congress OF !
June Is. 1902. BY that act. as heretofore
quoted, the President was authorized TO
acquire perpetual control Of a certain
strip of land; and it was expressly re-
quired that the control thus TO be OBJ
tanned should include jurisdiction to
make police and sanitary regulations
and to establish such judicial tribunals
as might be agreed on for their enforce
mept.
These were the conditions precedent
prescribed by Congress; and for their
fulhllment suitable stipulations were
embodied in the treaty. 1t has been
stated in public prints that Colombia
objected to these stipulations, on the
ground that they involved a relinquish-
ment of her sovereignty" but in the
light of what has taken place. this al
legged objection must be considered as an
afterthought.
COLOMBIAN SOVEREIGNTY.
In reality. the treaty. instead of re-
curing cession Of Colombia's SOW
ereignty. expressly Acknowledged, con-
firmed. and preserved il. The treaty
in this respect simply proceeded on the
lines on which all the negotiations lead
ing up to the present situation have
the exercise by the United States. sub
ject to the paramount rights Of the
local sovereign. of substantial con-
troll over the canal and the immediate
" adjacent territory. has been treated
as a fundamental part of any arrange
ment that might be made 1t has form
ed an essential feature of all our
plans, and it's necessity is fully
recognized in the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty
The Congress. in providing that such
control should be secured. adopted no
new principle. but only Incorporated In
its legislation a condition the impOr-
lance and propriety of which We're uni
versally recognized. During all the
years of negotiation and discussion that
preceded the conclusion of, the Hay
Herran treaty. Colombia never intimat-
cd that the requirement by the United
States Of control over the canal strip
would render unattainable the construc-
ton of a canal by way OF the Isthmus
of Panama: nor were we advised. dur
ing the months when legislation OF
1902 was pending before the Congress.
that the terms which IL embodied
would render negotiations with CoIom-
bia impracticable.
It is plain that no nation could con-
struct and guarantee the neutrality Of
the canal with a less degree OF con-
troll than was stipulated for in the Hay
Herran treaty. A refusal 20 grant such
degree of control was necessarily a re-
fusal TO make any practicable treaty at
all Such refusal therefore squareIy
raised the question whether Colombia
was entitled to bar the transit Of the
worlds traffic across the isthmus.
ISTHMIAN SENTIMENT.
! That the canal itself was eagerly de-
manded by the people Of the locality
/ through which 1t was TO pass. and that
the people of this locality no less eagerly
! longed for its construction under Amer
I lean control are shown by the unanim-
| lty OF action in the new Panama Re
public. Furthermore. Colombia. after
/ having rejected the treaty in spite of
our protests and warnings when it was
in her power to accept il, has since
shown the utmost eagerness TO accept
the same treaty If only the status quo
could be restored
One OF the men standing highest in
I the official circles of Colombia. on No
vember g. addressed the American min
lister at Bogota. saying that If the Gov
eminent OF the United States would
land troops TO preserve Colombian SOW
( ereignty and the transit. the Colon
bian government would declare mar
tial law; and. by virtue Of vested consti-
tutional authority, when public order is
disturbed. Iwouldl approve by decree
the ratification of the canal treaty as
signed; or. If the Government Of the
United States prefer. [wouldl call extra
session Of the congress-with new and
J friendly Nom her4z-nesrf Nav IN avnro-rf
the treaty"
Having these facts in view. there il
no shadow OF question that the Govern
ment OF the United States proposed Z
treaty which was not merely just. bu
generous. 10 Colombia, which our peopl,
regarded as erring. If at all, on the sid,
of overgenerosity; which was halle,
with delight by the people of the i'm
mediate locality through which the ca
nal was 30 pass. who were most con
cerned as to the new order of things
and which the Colombian authorize,
now recognize as being so good tina
they are willing to promise its uncon
ditional ratification IL only we will de
sert those who have shown themselve,
our friends and restore 10 those VIII,
have shown themselves unfriendly tn,
power TO undo what they did
| pass by the question as TO what as
surarce we have that they would nov
keep their pledge and not again refus,
TO ratify the treaty If they had tn,
power; for, OF course, L WIN not for on,
moment discuss the possibility of tn,
United States committing an act Of sucl
baseness as to abandon the new Repub-
lie Of Panama.