The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-10-13
FEAR ENGLAND WILL
BUILD RIVAL CANAL
U. S. May Have Lost Out in Effort
to Get Monopoly

New Orleans, La, Oct l3.-That the
United States in the last month Of
the Taft regime tried 90 obtain an op-
tion for an ocean 10 ocean canal route
through Columbia via the Atrato river
is shown in documents received by
Jose carlos ATartcllo, Columbian con-
sui here.
The information is contained in Of
fetal papers from the minister of for
cgn relations, and in them are found
the details OF the negotiations be-
tween James Y. Dubois. special en-
voy OF the United States, and DR..
Francisco Jose Crrutia. minister OF
foreign relations of Columbia.
The Wilson administration has been
begun then. A conference on the sub
ject was held In Bogota Feb. 10 last.
and Mr.. Dubois. reported the failure OF
the negotiations "a William j. Bryan.
secretary of state April l.
Coincident with this Ernest KEPT
ko. a mining engineer who passed
some time In Panama On route from
Peru to his home in New York.
brought tho report that officials of the
Isthmian Canal commission are con-
Vinced that an understanding has been
reached whereby the government ot
Great Britain will build the canal for
which the United States sought an
opinion.
The report that tho Colombian can
al, which would be rival Of the
Panama canal, is 10 be constructed
ut once was strengthened ny Phillip
re Bunau- Barilla. tho first engineer Of
the Panama Canal ca under the De
Isesseps regime in 1885, who has just
left New Orleans for Central America.
After ne had left II was stated by To-
cal bankers closely allied with New
York that Bunaulied-varilla himself
was interested in the now canal pro-
iect and that he aud others interested
by him would build tho projected can
al through the Isthmus of Darlen.
Says Canal VIII Be Built.
The report that some foreign pow
er was about TO finance the building
Of canal through Darien was first
mentioned to the New York Herald
correspondent by Bunau- -V1rilla in an
interview criticising the isthman cam
NJ commission for not having built >
sea level canal.
In this connection IL Is recalled that
a cable dispatch from London the lat-
ter part OF September called attention
10 tho fer-reaching possibilities of the
concessions granted in Colombia 10
tho firm Of Pearson & Son Of London.
1T is not improbable" the dispatch
reported the London Standard as say
ing, that the construction of an inter
oceanic canal along the course OF the
Astrata river will he undertaken, and
this would havc the effect of mini
mizing the importance Of she Panama
canal At once"
According 10 Consul Marteilo, whose
statements are supported by dCcu-
monts he has received from the minis
ter o. foreign relations at Bogota.
Minister Du Rois, who went To Bogota
Cslensibly to sec if some ARRANGEMENTS
lombia for the alleged activity of the
United states in the secession OF Fan
ANA. really went to obtain an option
for tho canal route. Consul Martello
says Minister Du Bois attempted 10
close with Colombia a deal similar to
that made with Nicaragua when the
United States recently Obtained the
obton On the Nicaragua canal route,
and that the sole object of the pro-
posal was to head off the construction
Of the canal by some other power.
Text OF the Proposals.
The official documents received by
Consul Martello contain these pro-
posals as coming from the United
States:
First-Signature Of Colombia Of the
tri-partitc resties.
Second-Paymcnt of $4,000. 900 to
Colombia for 75-year option 10 build
an inter-oceanic canal by the Atrato
route, and for the rights of establish
ing coaling stations on the islands OF
San Andreas and Providencia.
Third-Favorable Intervention of the
United States for the settlement of all
questions pending between Columbia
and Panama.
Fourth-Submission to arbitration
OF tho claim bearing upon the rever-
sion Of any rights of Colombia in the
Panama railroad.
Fifth-Concession OF Colombia of
preferential rights in
The Panama canal.