New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
FOR PEACE ~ COLOMBIA.

Las Novedades," Of New-York, the representa-
tive organ of Spanish-American interests. pub
lished in its issue of July Il letter addressed
from London 10 a political friend Of theirs in
New-York by two influential Colombians Felipe
Felipe Zapata and Climaco Vargas. this latter
name being also that of the Colombian revolution
airy leader. The letter is evidence that
the internal political troubles of Colombia will
soon be at end, and that the government and
the people will be able to turn their attention 10
the settlement OF the Panama Canal question. now
pending with the United States.
The letter opens by saying how glad the
writer's learn Of the project to terminate the
in Colombia proposed to General Vargas
Zapata and Climaao Vargas. this latter
ernment Of Bogota. The fact" continues the let
ter, that such scheme has been proposed after
the recent disasters TO the revolutionists in the
interior. to demonstrate the magnitude
of the public sentiment. which has been increasing
in Colombia in favor of termination of the
war by an act OF concation. The project is
dated May 26 and could have been converted into
a treaty of peace. and transmitted the day
by cable TO Bogota thus carrying to every home
and in the political prisons of unfortunate
country, the immense alienation of ending OF
the war There in consequence already twenty
five days tthe date of the letter here translated
London. June IS. 1921 that the state Of
has continued in Colombia by the single will OF
General Santos. who. while accepting the
essential bases of the peace treaty, has them
dependent upon two conditions the mpos
sble to obtain and the other without Importance
for the Liberal party. We consider impossible
the conditions that the debt incurred abroad by
the revolution shall be charged TO the national
treasury because there is government which
ever could accept IT. The question the bottom
is OF money. but of principle. The
expenses and losses effected home in the course
of domestic quarrel one thing: another and
a much different one is the advance of money and
the furnishing of material in neutral countries
10 revolutionary party warning against its
government. The payment OF these debts supposes
and requires the triumph of the revolution. If
this succumbs, there is other pay
the debts except the voluntary contributions of
the partisans of that revolution The condition
proposed by General Vargas-Santos would estab-
lish a bad precedent, and, account of that, DR..
Concha observes it would be dangerous to the
existence of any government and a menace to
peace In the future.
THE second condition demanded by General
Vargas-Santos is the appointment Of Liberal gov
ernors in four departments of the republic and of
Liberal projects in the districts OF Casa
mare and San Martin Inasmuch the rev.
olution is not in possession of single de-
partment and does seem to us
TO uphold that pretcnsion the condition appears
excessive. Moreover the political Importance of
that condition Is purely illusory. OF what use
would IT be the Liberals that the political
government which chooses them and remove
them its pleasure. and II the authority of those
employees depends the force which is lent
them by the government ITSELF
The letter contains many other considerations
OF high intelligence, all confirming the hope that
peace will prevail in Colombia.