PANAMA TREATY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1499, 23 July 1912, Page 7

PANAMA TREATY.

MORE EXCUSES FOR BREAKING IT.

Ey Telceraph-Prcss Association-CoDrric'dt Washington, July 21. Senator Sinitli. speaking in tho Senate, argued dial; Hie Panama Canal was a strip of American territory. Senator Lodge concurred in this view, contending that when Sir Julian Pauncefoto (then British Ambassador) dratted the agreement, of 1001 nobody expected the United States to nr(|uin> the cnnnl zone. Senator Smith then pointed out that (ho United States had never arbitrated in regard to Colombia's claims when redrew for the lots of the Colombian province of l'anuma was sought'. Senator Bacon replied that that fact did not relieve America of the responsibility of her eternal disgrace in treating a weaker nation as she had done Colombia.

AN INTERESTING CHAPTER OF HISTORY. Tho story nf the Canal Treaty made by the United States with the new-born Republic of Panama in 1903 forms an interesting chapter of history. For some, years the "United Slates had been endeavouring to conclude a treaty .with the Republic of Colombia, but without success. A largo sum was to bo paid to Colombia for tho caual rights, and the politicians of that-country were violently squabbling as to the division of the proceeds. Tho party in power was anxious to extract as many millions as possible from the United States, and the parlies in opposition used every artifice to block die ratification of the treaty until they themselves should be in office and in a position to secure, the spoils. While this quarrel was going on at Bogota, the noliticiaivs of tlio Colombian province' of Panama were seized with a' brilliant idea. They engineered a revolution at the beginning of November, 1!)03; proclaimed the independence of the "Konublic of Panama" on November 1; and on November IS signed a treaty with the United. States Government by which that country was given the right to construct the caual on payment of ".£2,000,000 down, and a yearly rental of .£50.0(10 beginning in nine years from the date of signature. It was alleged in different quarters that the revolution was inspired by the American Government and engineered by American citizen l '. Under tho treaty with Panama the United States was granted in perpetuity tho use of a zone five miles wide on each' side of tho canal route, and was given exclusive control of the police, judicial, sanitary and other services. Partial control over the cities of Panama and Colon was also given to the United Steles. The Hay-Pauncefote Treaty with Great Britain was made in 1901 before tho United States had acquired any territorial interests on the isthmus. In view of tlio argument that tho position has been changed and the British treaty invalidated by the bargain with Panama it is interesting to recall the terms of .Article iv of the Hay-Pauncefote.Treaty:, "It lis agreed that no exchange of territorial sovereignty or of international relations of countries traversed by the be-fore-mentioned canal shall affect tho general principle of neutrality, or the oblisation of the high-contracting parties under tho present treaty."