The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-31
(Contlnued from First PaEcO

cation in this country, though he also
STUDIED In Germany. He came to the
United States at the age of three. lis
father was minister TO Washington from
1876 10 1855, and assisted in the negOtid-
ton of the treaty of New Granada. of
1876
Upon his graduation from Georgetown
University in 1863 DIT. Herran went TO
London as private secretary to the Co
lOmbian minister. He returned to Co
lombia in 1867. Later he served this
country as American consul at Medellen.
He was appointed secretary OF public
instruction in 1898 and returned TO this
country in 1900.
Head of the Legislature.
Throughout the regime of Minister
Concha, DR.. Herran was practically the
head of the legation. Minister Concha
was relieved from duty by the Colom-
bian government for not being disposed
to make an agreement as 20 the Panama
Canal on any convention that would be
acceptable TO the State Department
The conditions were that the State
Department felt itself bound strictly by
the letter of the Spooner law. and the
cardinal point OF that act was the re-
quirement that the United states should
have perpetual control OF the strip
wherein the canal was to be dug.
Minister Concha held that TO comply
with this requirement meant an abro-
cation of Colombian sovereignty over
the territory. such as was obnoxious TO
the Colombian constitution, and besides
was Objectionable to the people.
DR.. Heuan's View.
DR.. Herran did not regard any of the
questions as serious obstacles to the
negotiation of a treaty He said the
question of sovereignty was not in
volved. He interpreted the perpetual
control clause of the SpoOner act to
mean such authority as enabled this
country to construct, operate, and salts
factorily protect the canal
With these views existing the settle
ment of the Hay-Herran treaty was
brought about and the treaty was
signed by DR.. Herran in December Of
1902.
The Colombian congress met several
months afterward and repudiated it.
During the period just previous 10
the revolution in Panama. and for sew
eral months aftsrward, DR.. Herran was
subjected to a severe nervous strain. He
devoted all his efforts as a diplomat TO
bringing about a satisfactory adjust
ment Of the whole difficulty, and after
he saw IL was hopeless 20 attempt To
bring back Panama he made manful
stand for his country in the effort to
secure every possible compensation sac
rifiCed by the Colombian congress in re-
1eCting satisfactory treaty.
Efforts Not Unappreciated.
His efforts in this direction were not
unappreciated by his country. after the
excitement over the secession of Pan
ANA had died away. and perhaps the
most pathetic part about his death at
this time is the fact that i'm the re-
Stunning of diplomatic relations between
this Government and Panama DR.. Her
ran would probably have been sent back
to resume his position at the legation.
1t was even said that he would be ele-
waited TO the rank Of minister and given
fun authority to represent Colombia IS
envoy extraordinary at Washington.
1T was a broken heart and not
tuberculosis Of the throat which killed
Dr. Herran remarked a prominent
State Department official this morning.
when told Of the death Of the we'll
known and much-lOved Colombian dip
lOmatist.
DIR Herran began TO fail I'm health