Hay-Herran Treaty

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Map of Panama, with Panama canal
Map of Panama, with Panama canal

The Hay-Herran Treaty was a treaty signed on January 22, 1903 between Secretary of State John M. Hay of the United States and Dr. Tomás Herrán of Colombia. Had it been passed, it would have allowed the United States to acquire a renewable 99-year lease on a 6-mile wide strip across Panama (which was then part of Colombia) for $10,000,000 and an annual payment of $250,000.[1][2][3] It was ratified by the United States Senate on March 14, but it was not passed by the Colombian Senate, and did not go into effect.

It has been considered by later observers that this happened mainly because Herran had negotiated the treaty with little government or legislative oversight. It has also been mentioned that many of the politicians and congressmen found the amount offered to fall short, considering that the United States was willing to pay $40,000,000 for the New Panama Canal Company.[4][5]

The United States government was not willing to renegotiate the treaty with Colombia or alter the amounts involved and soon gave its support, both political and military, to a planned uprising in Panama, which led to its independence and to the eventual construction of the Panama Canal.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/2604/rsvlt.htm
  2. ^ http://www.buyandhold.com/bh/en/education/history/2003/kitty_hawk_1.html
  3. ^ http://www.denison.edu/collaborations/istmo/n07/articulos/canal.html
  4. ^ http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article?tocId=207505&query=Panama%20City&ct=%22ebi%22
  5. ^ http://www.mssu.edu/international/Latinam/canal.htm
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