The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-18
That Is the Question Involved in Co.
lombia's Refusal to Adopt
Canal Treaty.
das Comparatively Backward Ma
ton the Right to Block the
Worlds Progress?
Colombia Will Be Told She Must
Live Up to Her Expressed
Obligations.
N.,u York Sun Special Service.


Chicago, June 1S.--Walter Wellman. in
q Washington special to the Record
Herald says:
Possibilities Of international complica
lions over the Panama canal give the
administration some concern. A plain
statement Of the facts show that the
situation is one which must cause anxiety
until it Is cleared up in way or an
other. 1t is not true that President
Roosevelt has threa tened to seize the
isthmus. 1t is not true that our gov
eminent is intriguing to bring about
secession from Colombia by the state OF
Panama and its neighbor, Cauca, with a
view to the ultimate acquisition Of the
canal territory by the United States But
this has occurred: The Administered ton
has taken a firm stand in favor Of the
general proposition that Colombia shall
not be permitted to block the worlds
progress and that in one way or another
that government must redeem Its obliga-
tions to the United States. Various ex-
pressions to this effect, decisive but tenn
perate have been made In the proper
quarters and no doubt have reached the
ears Of government leaders at Bogota
OF course 1t was intended they should be
transmitted thither. These expressions
cannot be regarded as a threat. No effort
is being made to intimidate the Colon
bians with the superior power OF the
United States. But there is a desire that
the intelligent men who are now as
sembling at Bogota shall be made to
understand that they have some obliga-
tions to the outside world to consider and
meet.
Must Redeem Obligations.
Members Of the administration say Col
ombia Is under obligations to the United
States. At various times in the past the
Colombian government thru It's diplomatic
representa- tives here has made specific
pledges as to what that state would do
in case the United States decided to dig
isthm1an canal upon Colombian terri
tory. These promises were to make rea-
sonable terms to throw obstacles In
the way of the enterprise and to meet the
United States fairly and generously in the
fixing of all details. These pledges are a
part of the records. They formed con-
dition precedent to the passage Of the
Panama canal bill by congress last winter.
They were finally expressed in the treaty
which has been ratified by the United
States senate. Members of the admins
tration say this is something more than
q tentative negotfa tfon Tt is a compact.
The United States has spent time and
money on It's part and has a right to ex-
pect a fulfllment Of the spirit of the
agreement at least on the part of the
Colornbians. s..
When President Roosevelt intimates, as
he has intimated, that the time has come
to stop dwadling with Colombia, he does
not mean that the United States threatens
aggression, but that the Columbians must
meet the case fairly If they wish to avert
the raising of a new question in the re-
lations between their government and the
United States. ...r.
Mustn't Block Worlds Progress.
There is another view Of the case which
has received attention here. The claim is
made that no state has right to throw
itself in the way Of the worlds progress
The smaller the state the more unreason
able it's attitude, and the more import
ant the move which it tries to block the
more acute the situation must be. Fol
instance savage tribes are not permitted
to prevent the opening of continents tt
civilization and commerce. and backward
nations which are advanced far beyond
savagery must also conform to the world
necessities.
There is such a principle as civiliza
tfon's right Of eminent domain. For in
stance If nature had placed in the At
lantic ocean long strip of rock, stand
Ing In the path of commerce between tn
old world and the new, inhabitated by
million of two of people who maintaine
a sort Of government. and it was desire
to cut channel for ships. If that govern
ment stood in the way, either declaring 1
should not be done or attempting to exac
exorb1tant terms, how long would it TAX
the governments Of America and Europ
to dispose Of this obstacle? .
Civilizations Right OF Domain.
Civilizations right of eminent domai
would be exercised and a channel woul
be cut for the worlds commerce. Natur
did not plant such strip of rock In IN
Atlantic ocean, but she planted one
the American isthmus separating til
great seas. And 1t is with that obstacl
to progress the United States Is now dea
ing.