The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-04

In a Short Time United States Will Be
i'm Full Possession of the Property

Washington, March "A eonclu-
sion of the negotiations for the title
to the Panama canal property is in
sight. Within thirty days, perhaps in
a shorter time, the United States will
be in full possession of the property
and the money consideration will have
been paid to both the Republic of Pan
| anna and to the new Panama COM
pany.
Attorney General Knox had a con-
ference today with the President, at
| which the whole subject, so far as the
legal phases of it are concerned, was
considered and decided. At the con-
clusion of the conference the attorney
general authorized the following state
ment:
Il have advised the President that
he is authorized to pay at once
100000 stipulated for by the treaty,
the ratificatiens of which have just
been exchanged. Also, that he is au-
thorized to pay to. the new Panama
Canal Company the 40,000,000 which
under the agreement between the
United States and that company we
are to pay for it's property and have
ready to close the transaction.
THE details in connection with the
transfer of the canal company's prop
erty should not require more than
thirty days"
1t appears that, after thorough con-
sideration of the entire subject, At
torney General Knox is satisfied per-
fectly with the title which the canal
company is able to pass to the United
States. In his opinion it will not be
necessary to pursue the investigation
further Mr.. Knox declines to dis
cuss the pending litigation in the
French courts, but the inference, from
his authorized statement, is plain that
| he does not regard it as a serious men
| ace to the validity of the title to the
property which the company will pass
| to the United States.
Secretary Shaw practically has com.
pleted arrangements at the treasury
Department for the money necessary
to meet the obligation incurred
through the purchase of the French
company's property. His arrange
manner as not to disturb seriously the
financial condition Of the country.
Paris, March 1T was asserted
positively today by one of the highest
officials OF the Panama Canal Com
pany that, contrary to the statement
emanating from New Orleans, no ar
rangement has been made or project
ed between the company and the re-
public of Colombia in connection with
the suits now pending before the
French courts.
The official declared there is abso-
Iutely no difficulty in the way of an
immediate conclusion of the negoua-
lions for the transfer Of the conces-
sion to the United States as the COM
pany maintains that the French pro-
cedure does not provide for an in
junction, that there cannot be any
legal restraint of the transfer, and
also that practically all the available
assets of the company are in Pana-
ma, outside of the jurisdiction OF the
French courts. 1t is further pointed
out that if the transfer to the United
States is effected Immediately, subse-
uuent proceedings will be inenecuVe.
so far as applying to the unlteo
States.
The officials of the United States
embassy share the view Of the ofncers
of the canal company, that there is
nothing now in the way Of the actual
transference of the concession and the
company's property.