Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1903 — CANAL TREATY DEAD. [ARTICLE]

CANAL TREATY DEAD.

COLUMBIAN CONGREBB FAILB TO ACT IN TIME LIMIT. Time for Ratification of the Hay-Her-raa Convention Haa Expired—Tear’a Delay in (Bight—Washington Now ‘ Awaita a New Proposal. j At midnight-Tuesday the Hay-Herran Panama canal treaty became a thing of the past. As Tuesday was the last day for the exchange of ratifications of the treaty, under the terms of the convention, that instrument may be considered as dead. For several weeks, some newspapers assert, the treaty has been used as a blackmailing device for forcing the French Panama Canal Company to give up a portion of the .$40,000,000 it was to receive from the United States-for its plant, concessions and completed channel. The report that the Colombians seriously contemplated “holding up" the United States for a larger bonus has never been fully authenticated, although there was doubtless a disposition to demand better terms from this government until they were advised by the State Department, through Minister Beaupre, that no better offer would be made for the canal concession. The expiration of the time limit for the ratification of the treaty, and the discussion of the probable course of the President and the future status of the Panama route, naturally call public attention to the act of Congress under which the treaty was negotiated. This act was passed at the first session of the Fiftyseventh Congress, nnd was approved June 28, 1992. It authorizes the paymeut of $40,000,000 to the Panama Canal Company for its plant, concessions and unfinished work, and the acquirement by the President from the republic of Colombia “upon such terms as he may deem reasonable” of a perpetual control of a canal strip. It provides for the appointment of a canal commission to have charge of construction, for preliminary appropriation and for the bond issue to defray expenses. Section 4, winch is now the bone of contention between those who favor the Panama route and tho?e who wish the President to turn to the Nicaragua route, provides “that should the President be unable to obtain for the United States a satisfactory title to the property of the Panama Canal Company and the control of the necessary territory of the republic of Colombia, and the rights mentioned in sections 1 and 2 of the act, within a reasonable time and upon reasonable terms, then the President shall,” after having negotiated a satisfactory treaty with Nicaragua and Costa Rica, direct the canal commissidn to proceed *vkill the excavation of a canal by the Nicaragua route. It is contended by some that the language of this section makes it obligatory upon the President to open negotiations with Nicaragua and Costa Rica at once, nnd that the Panama route muet.be abandoned. It is difficult to see now such a construction can be put upon the plain language of this section of the canal ac-t. It eays that should the President be unable to secure the control of a canal strip “within a reasonable time and upon reasonable terms” he shall open up negotiations for a canal treaty with Nicaragua and Costa Rica. What is means by “a reasonable time,” whether six months or two years, is left to the judgment of the President. The Colombian government has signified through Dr. Herran a desire to renew negotiations.