Show 4 4 t M 1 M M 4 I 4 M 1 4 M I M H t M 4 M 4 M M M 1 H I 4 M 4 t ti i THE HE CANAL SITUATION f 4 4 4 4 As we Je gather from our Washington reports itis it itis itis is the opinion of the sub sub-c sub committee o of the S Senate nate Committee on Canals that the French Panama lanam t Canal Company could not give the ilie United States a good title to what is left of their property in the old de Lesseps ditch litch The eminent lawyers composing the subcommittee sub are said to believe that in ill order to make a valid conveyance the French and Colombian governments between them first would have to secure full legal title to the subject matter and then make the transfer to o this nation by treaty Probably such a method of procedure would be obnoxious to the Ame American ican pol policy c as far as France is concerned Although the intervention of that State in the premises might ight be only pe perfunctory perfunctory tory still to permit it might establish ish a precedent that would at some time menace the integ integrity ity of the Monroe doctrine Friends of the proposed Nicaragua Canal appear appear appear ap ap- ap- ap pear to feel confident that the full committee will report rejecting the Panama and recommending the Nicaragua route Even in that event the project project project pro pro- will not be out of the woods It is vigorously a antagonized in the Senate and will b be to tl e end of the chapter Some of its opponents h honestly nestly believe the Panama to be the better and cheaper of the two propositions while others other'S do and will wil obstruct the Nicaraguan Canal because it is feasible feasible feasible ble and could be built within eight or ten years ready for business while the tile alternative native scheme v very likely might be hung up in the Supreme Court for that length of time and at last might be found fount impracticable It is a ticklish business all round around and the country will be glad to see see- it set settled led one wa way or 01 another |