Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-10-14

COlOmDld. LII TIE event SuCu SOuur
lions could not be met 1t authorized
the Nicaraguan route and seemed to
lean toward lock type canal. An i'm
mediate appropriation Of $10,O00.0OO
was made available for preliminary
expenses.
President Roosevelt now had the au-
thority he desired for going ahead with
the project Secretary Of State John
Hay and the minister from Colombia,
Jose v. Concha. Immediately began
corresponding over the granting OF a
strip Of territory in Panama for the
prosecution Of the enterprise
Minister Concha drew up a treaty.
which was presented as q memoran.
dunn to Secretary Hay on April 18
1902. This treaty, as well as the Her
ran treaty that succeeded It. had a
number of impossible provisions, view
ed In the light Of our canal experience.
It authorized the French company to
sell its property to the United States
and authorized the United States to
build. operate and protect the canal,
the concession to run for 100 years and
be renewable ut the discretion Of the
United States. The canal was to be
finished fourteen years after the adop-
ton of the treaty, with possible ex-
tension Of twelve years, everything to
revert to Colombia II the canal was not
begun within five years and completed
within twenty-five years. Colombia
was to receive 100000 in cash.
Colombia sent new minister. Thom-
as Herran. in 1903. who negotiated a
treaty along the same lines. except
that Colombia was to receive $4,000
900 instead of $7,0OO.0OO for the canal
zone. Had the treaty been adopted It
is a safe conclusion to draw that in
terminable and exasperating friction
would have developed between the two
countries. Only an extended visit to
the isthmus can give an adequate idea
of how essential 1t has been to the
United States to have absolutely free
hand in the canal zone.
President Jose NJ. Marroquin of Co
lombia in this year. 1902. asked the
United States to maintain uninterrupt-
ed passage over the Panama railroad
during n serious revolution In the prov
lnce and promised In return to give
the United States treaty for q canal
zone AS result Of American inter
yention and good Offices peace was
patched up between the insurgents
and Colombia on Nov. 21. 1902. We
had performed our part Of the agree
ment and now looked to Colombia to
perform her part
President Marroquin was in good
faith, but factional fighting in the con-
gress Of Colombia. with his enemies In
the ascendancy, showed the chances OF
q treaty to be dubious.
On Aug. II, 1908. the senate Of Co
lombia killed the treaty after the house
had passed 1t. President Marroquin
had exerted himself to the utmost to
save the treaty. doubtless sensing the
quality of the man in the White House.
but to no avail, and another way out
for the canal project was already tak'
Ing form.
In the summer of 1908 some leading
Panama citizens conceived the idea OF
q revolution from Colombia and the
forming of an Independent republic.
The revolution was started on Nov. 3
in the city of Panama. and troops sent
by Colombia to put down the rebellion
were not allowed to cross the isthmus
BY United States marines.
On Nov. 6 President Roosevelt recog
nized the independence Of Panama.
and on Nov. 1S the new republic con-
cluded a treaty with our government
granting US q strip Of territory ten
miles wide across the isthmus as a Gu
nal zone. The United States paid Pan
anna s10,OOOOOO in cash and. beginning
in 1918, an annual rental Of $25O,OOO
for this territory. 1t was not until
May 4, 1904. that the American flag
was raised over the canal zone.