Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-28
REPLY FROM COLOMBIA
RESPONSE TO STATE DEPART
MENT's PROPOSITIONS.
Larger Payment Wanted for occupa-
tion of Strip of Land for Panama
Canal-Eesentment at Officers.

The latest Colombian note respecting the
canal treaty, which arrived in Washington
several days ago, has not yet been delivered
to the State Department, and there is some
reason to fear that a serious hitch is i'm
pending. This note was framed at Bogota
September 16 last. a date prior to the ar
rival of Rear Admiral Casey in isthmian
waters and his checking of the passage of
troops across the isthmus by rail. Since
that date the admiral has had several occa-
sions to assert a police power over the Pan
anna railroad and in the harbors at either
end.
There is reason to believe that these
assertions of power though in the view
of the State Department here exercised
strictly within the limits of the treaty be-
tween the United States and Columbia by
which the former guarantees freedom Of
traffic across the isthmus, are viewed by Co
lombia with growing apprehension and sus-
picton Such an event as that recorded
yesterday for instance, in which Admiral
Casey challenged the papers of the Co
lombian warship Bogota, boat acquired
In the United States for use by the Co
lombian government, is regarded by the
Colombians as a direct assertion of United
States sovereignty which they cannot allow
to go without protest.
Therefore there is reason to believe that
this last Colombian note respecting the
canal treaty, which might In itself have af-
forded the necessary means for complete
agreement between the two countries, is
being delayed in presentation in order that
the Colombian government at Bogota may
have an opportunity to qualify 1t or even
Withhold it entirely, In view of the recent
events which have been so distasteful to
them.
Friendly in Tone.
1t is difficult to learn the exact nature Of
this communication, but 1t is known that 1t
is not altogether an unqualified acceptance
Of the State Departments propositions 1t
is, however, friendly and dignifed in tone
and does not close negotiations by any
means though it unquestionably sets back
the date of final agreement by opening up
new topics for argument. For one thing,
the Colombian government now is entirely
dissatisfied with the small amount of the
payment to be made to it by the United
States under the terms of the protocol,
which 1t is proposed to use as the basis of
the treaty. This sum is 81 100000. Colombia
wants at least $4,000 900. Moreover, the
original proposal looked to a wait for four
teen years before beginning the payment Of
annual rental, the amount of which was to
be then fixed by mutual agreement. Co
lombia now asks the United States to agree
at once on lump yearly payment of s6O0,-
600, which will considerably increase the
immediate cost of the enterprise. The Co
lombian government clings to its conten-
tion that it has no constitutional authority
to ALLEVIATE any Colombian territory, and
reiterates that the best it can do to meet
the language of the Spooner act, which
looks to perpetual control by the United
States over the canal strip, is to make a
1O0-year lease, with distinct stipulation
that the same shall be renewable by the
United States at the expiration of the first
century.
Resentment at Naval Officers.
One obstacle which, it is believed, will in
terfere somewhat with the immediate re-
sumption of negotiations Of the treaty is
the feeling aroused in Colombia by the ac
tions of American naval officers during the
recent revolutionary movements there.
These are declared to have been bitterly re-
sented in Bogota, where it was felt the
American officers had exceeded their au-
thority in interfering with the transporta-
ton of Colombian soldiers across the 18TH
mian raiIroad-a right, the Colombian Off
Gals have asserted, guaranteed them by
treaty. The controversy growing out of
the attitude of these officers was taken up
by the Colombian state department with
United States Minister Hart at Bogota, and,
so far as known has not yet been definitely
settled. The question at issue touches the
question of sovereignty and has an impor-
tant bearing on the pending subject.
The Colombian legation officials decline to
discuss the latest response made by Colom-
bia, but the opinion prevails that included
within its scope are some representations
respecting or growing out of recent events
on the isthmus.