the more popular, perhaps because
it seemed at one time that Panama was preempted by De Lesseps' French
company. This contest as to the better route led to the passage of a
law, in 1902, which authorized the President to acquire the rights and
property needed to construct a canal by the Panama route, on condition
that he could make satisfactory arrangements "within a reasonable time
and upon reasonable terms." Otherwise, Nicaragua was to be chosen.
Theodore Roosevelt was now President and, though at one time not
favoring Panama, he decided that there the canal should be constructed
and with his accustomed vigor set himself to the task.

The first difficulty presented by this route was the prior right which
the French company still retained, although it had little, if any, hope
of carrying on the construction itself. It possessed not only rights but
also much equipment on the spot, and it had actually begun excavation
at certain points. The purchase of all its properties complete for
$40,000,000 was, therefore, not a bad investment on the part of the
Government. By this purchase the United States was brought directly into
relation with Colombia, through one of whose federal states, Panama, the
canal was to be cut.

While the French purchase had removed one obstacle, the De Lesseps
charter alone would not suffice for the construction of the canal,
for the American Government had definite ideas as to the conditions
necessary for the success of the work. The Government required a zone
which should be under its complete control, for not otherwise could
satisfactory sanitary regulations be enforced. It insisted also on
receiving the right to fortify the canal. It must have these and
other privileges on a long time grant. For them, it was willing to pay
generously. Negotiations would be affected, one could not say how,
by the Treaty of 1846 with Colombia, * by which the United States
had received the right of free use of the isthmus, with the right of
maintaining the neutrality of the district and in return had guaranteed
to Colombia sovereignty over the isthmus.

* Then known as the Republic of New Granada.

Hay took up the negotiations with the Colombian charge d'affaires, Dr.
Herran, and arranged a treaty, which gave the United States a strip of
land six miles wide across the isthmus, on a ninety-nine year lease,
for which it should pay ten million dollars and, after a period of nine
years for construction, a