New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-05
RECOGNITION JUSTIFIED

RECOGNITION JUSTIFIED.
Long before the conclusion Of the Hay-aerran
treaty the course OF events had shown that a
canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
must be built by the United States or not az all
Experience had demonstrated that private enter.
prise was utterly inadequate FOR the purpose:
and a fixed policy declared by the United
States many memorable occasions and SUD-
ported by the practically unanimous voice 90
American opinion. had rendered II morally I'm
possible that the work should be undertaken
by European powers. either singly or in COM
bination. Such were the universally recognized
conditions which the legislation OF the Con-
gress was based. and on which the late negotfa-
tons with Colombia were begun and concluded.
Nevertheless. when the well considered agrees
ment was rejected by Colombia and the revolu-
ton on the tsthnus ensued. one OF COlOmbia's
first acts was to invoke the intervention OF tho
United States; does her invitation appear
70 have been confined TO this government alone.
By telegram from 91r. Beaupre cur ministes
at Bogota, OF November . last, we were IN
formed that General Reyes would soon leavs
Panama invested with full powers that he had
telegraphed the President Of Mexico to ask ths
government OF the United States and all coun-
tries represented at the Pan-AmeriCan Confer
ence ito aid Colombia to preserve her integrity
and that he had requested that the governTnens
OF the United States should meanwhile
preserve the neutrality and transit ot
the isthnus' and should mot recognizs
the new government" In another tele-
gram from Mr.. Beaupre, which was sent
later In the day. this government was asked
whether II would take action TO maintain
Colombian right and sovereignty on TIE isthmus
IN accordance with article 80 LofI the treaty
OF 1916 IN case the Colombian governments
should be entirely unable 70 suppress tbs
secession movement there" Here was a direcc
solicitation TO the United States TO interviews
for the purpose OF suppressing, contrary 20 ths
treaty Of 1S46 as this government has uniformly
construed 4. a new revolt against COlounoia's
authority brought about by her own refusal 10
permit the fulhlment OF tho great design for
which that treaty was made. 1t vas under
these circumstances that the United states m
stead OF using its forces 70 destroy those wno
sought 20 make the engagements OF the treaty
reality. recognized them as the proper GUS
todians OF the sovereignty OF the isthnnuS
DEMANDED BY NATIONAL INTERESTS.
This recognition was. IN the second place. FUR.
Their justified by the highest considerations o.
our national interests and saIety- IN al ms
range Of our international relations l do not
hesitate 10 affirm that there is nothing Of greater
or more pressing Importance than the COnStruc-
ton OF an interOceantc canal Long acknowl-
edged 70 be essential o our commercial cevel-
opTnent II has become as the result OF the re-
cent extension OF cur territorial dominion. nors
than ever essential 20 our national selr-defence.
In transmitting 70 the Senate the treaty or IS3o
President Polk pointed out as the pr1ncipaI. Fea-
son for its ratification that the passage OF thS
isthmus, which IT was desiSnei TO secure.
would relieve US from long and dangerous
navigation OF more than nine thousand mics
around Cape Horn. and render our coII.illIIllca-
ton with our own possessions on the horoH"sss
coast OF America comparatively easy anu
given TO this consideration an importance IN m
rneasurabIy greater than IL possessed IN Io+o.
In the light OF our present situation, Ihe esl4u
Ushnent OF easy and speedy communication 0y
sea between the Atlantic and the Paclnc pre-
sents itself not simply as something 70 De us
sired, but an object 70 De poslIlVely 80
promptly attained Reasons Of COnVeniencS
have been superseded by reasons OF vital Neces-
sity. which DO not admit Of indefinite delays
To such delays the rejection oy Col9Ino-A -
the Hay-Herran treaty directly exposed US IS
proof OF this fact I need only refer 10 the pro-
grarue outlined in the report OF the majority @
the Panama Canal committee. read n lhe -
IomhIan Senate on the 18th OF October last N
this report which recommended that the olS-
cussion OF a law 70 authorize the SoFeill--T 40
to enter upon new negotiations should Dc u
definitely postponed. 1t IS propoSeG &c Is,ag
consideration OF the subject should pc ueIe4t =
TIL October 81. 1901 when the next CoiOiIlr s
Congress should have met IN ORDINARY se9S. -
Ey that time as the report goes on 10 say 20
extension Of time granted 10 the New Lgli 80
Canal Company by treaty IN 1876 W915a 4 i
exDired and the new Congress would ne III .
posttfon TO take up the question Wnethef 20
company had not. IN spite or further eNteIs. -
that had been granted oy IessIa'AVS s, 49, tba+
feited all its property and rights w IeI , '-L-
time arrives" the report significantly deci@- -,
'.the republic without any impeachment W. -
able 70 contract and viii be IN more clear, 49,
5sari+a and more advantageous poSSeSSloL'
both legally and materially" The naAed me- :.
ing OF this report is that Colombia pToposGu -
1vaft until by the enforcement or tor1eIlut9
raDuSrant 10 the ideas Of justice when oolI.t
In every civilized nation. the property and rSIVs
az the New Panama Canal company COu'C -
confscated-
CONFLICT WITH FRANCE Likely
srch Is the scheme 10 which 1t was propose
+bo+ the United States should be invited 70 Oe
coyrA a marty The construction or the cana
vas 70 he relegateJ TO the INDEFINITE LutTIo'
,,-bila Colon bIa was by reason or heF own uel--{
80 he TI,ced IN the more advantageous po9l
tior of claiming not merely the conpenS@LloI11
- r. cstJ nv the United States Tor the PRIV.
- 80 cor,0ietinE the canal but also the I0l -
fII4O,1s authorized by the act or 1897 70 De pan
- 49, nroDsrtv OF the New Panama CduS4
~ rTbat the attempt 10 carry out tAl'
49,, yyvo,1ld have brought Colombia Hto 80 80
a.. 't.L the government Of France cannon 20
- - - nor could the United states nao
,-,9tej ,,Do, Immunity from the conseq 80
20 e. ottar,Dt even apart from the Iiuelli1 oI
9,s - v-bich the construction or the 80 80
- - he suhtsCted. on the first apped---I5
", 5ans,ar 70 colombia this government 49, -
- 80, summoned 10 interpose, III OIu1- -
- arPect 10 the guarantees OF Ihe u0It 900
1S16. and all this in support OF plan 1-s1-
.-LiIa cterfZed IN its nrst stage oS -. IS
80, S,srerard OF our own highest HleieSea, ~ a
TtI,, TO end in further injury 10 the =. .haI-
fiS,SI,, nation whose enormous losses ~ Re-
-anarons Efforts 10 pierce the lsthnhu7 NV
Come n matter Of history. ,,+,t,, that
", the third place. 1 confidently I Is,a was
+ba racoerition of the republic OF - aTsctivs
an OCT justified BY the interests y, be said
ctI,,IJ~ation II ever government I.II;-oton 20
80 baya received a mandate from CIV CIV. - yrhicn
SFact an object the Accomplishment -