Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-21
NEEDS :: TUE ! MONEY
Why Colombia Charges
s25,ooo,ooo for Canal Strip.
4 10
Is WILLING ]: TO WAIT
IGNORES Posz1BI : SELECTION OF
NICARAGUA ROUTE.
Arrival Of Senior -Arciniegas From
Bogota-Brings No New
Proposition.
Is WILLING TO WAIT


oian diplomatic service has arrived in
Washington with data regarding the Pam
anna canal for Dr. Herran. the Colombian
charge here. This data relates principally
to the debates in the Colombian senate on
the canal treaty, which it is desired DIR.
Herran should have for his information and
guidance. DR.. Herran says that Mr. Arch
niegas did not bring with him any new
proposition from the Colombian government
relating to the canal
Colombia's Price.
In a recent interview Senior Arciniegas
said that the only conditions on which the
Colombian government was now prepared
to conclude the pending treaty were the
payment of s25,00OOOO by the United States
for the advantages it would receive, and an
agreement to let the territory remain as a
port of Colombia
There are just as strong advocates of
the construction of the canal in my coun-
Try as IN the United States" he said. TN
TACT, everybody understands that it
would be of some material benefit to u.s.
ana that the relations into which it
would bring us with such a great coun-
try as the United States would be of
great use to small country, such as
ours. The people want it, have wanted
II 1or long time. and know that they
will get it some day.
Looking Out for Their Interests.
However, there is pretty general feel
ing that the United States will gain a great
deal more out of this canal than we not
only in the long run but from the very
start, so 1t is argued that while we should
not exactly drive a sharp bargain, we
should look out for our own interests. You
can't blame anybody for doing that
when say that Colombia will not profit
as largely as the United States 1 am able
to give reasons for it. l won't discount the
fact that any benefit by increase of the
prosperity of the isthmus is benefit to our
people, nor that the proximity of any pros
per1ty enr1ches those nearby. But our pres
ent position Is that the greater part of Co
iolnpla Will not be made more prosperous
Tor many years to come.
TO illustrate, the territory of Colombia Is
practically square area with the Isthmus
OF Panama to the north as a sort of han
ole. NOW the coast to the southeast will
pront, and so will that to the southwest,
but how about that largest part of Colom-
bla which lies to the south, with hundreds
or miles of almost uninhabitabIe country
between 1t and the canal? In what way
will ft-pra ctically the whole of Colombia
gain by the commerce of the canal? For
its own products it has at present ample
facilities for getting them to the Atlantic
coast by it's rivers. On.
They Need the Money.
THE above reasons we consider worthy
OF consideration. but there Is stronger
and more pressing one why we ask $685.
0OOSOO as payment by the United States
for the certain advantage which it will
get from this commercial enterprise-we
need the money. We have just finished
thirty-seven months war, the government
debt is heavy, it's paper money has depre-
ciated to a nominal value, and that sum of
money is necessary to put 1t on it's feet
again. The government needs just about
$23,O0O.OO0 to cancel it's debt The $40, 0O0,
600 offered would not be sufficient for our
purposes.
1.-THE second condition which we demand
of the United States is that it leave the
canal land as a part of Colombia. The re-
linquishment of sovereignty is out of the
question. 1t has been proposed that two
tribunals be established to regulate the af-
fairs of the territory turned over to the
United States for canal use The details
of that course would have to be arranged
by treaty.
Willing to Wait.
Now should the United States refuse to
accept our terms. we shall simply wait I'M
til she gets ready. We should gain by wait
ing since she is at the present time willing
to pay the French company something like
$40. 100000 for their franchise. That ex-
pires in six years. and reverts Of course to
us. But In waiting we should not consider
the offers Of any other country to build the
canal. since we feel that the United States
is about the only one which would stick to
it's treaty after 1t made one
when / said that We needed the money
badly / did not wish to indicate that CO.
lombia Is in a wrecked state, and not under
a fairly stable government. Quite the con-
trary, the revolutionists are satisfied that
they cannot win their fight. and only a few
days before I left home, the revolutions
chief supporter, General Tribe Tribe, told
me that he would be unwilling to recon-
mence the strife.
Peace in Colombia.
THE country is blessed with internal
peace, and we hope to maintain it on the
outside. l do not take any stock in the
recent rumors regarding threatened war
between ourselves and Venezuela Only
lately the Colombian congress limited it's
army to 10000 men, which does not look
as If war was expected"
Regarding the coming presidential cleo
ton, Senior Arcinlegas believes that Gen.
Rafael Reyes will be chosen, with Luis
Carlos Rico. now secretary of state as
vice president.
Toca1 Patenfs TsSuad