New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-23
CONSUL ON ROOSEVELT
Representative of Colombia Bit
terly Attacks Ex-President.


Francisco Escobar. Consul General Of
Colombia. has taken the unusual action FOR
the official representative Of a foreign gov
eminent OF making a bitter attack on the
former head Of the government Of the coun-
try TO which Sefor Escobar is accredited.
Sefor Escobars attack is on ex-President
Roosevelt, and takes the form Of an open
letter, replying 10 Mr.. Roosevelts article
in THE Outlook" on How the United
States Acquired thS Right to Build the
Panama Canal According TO the brief
note sent 10 the newspapers. the letter was
sent to Mr.. Roosevelt on October 20, and
the copy was released for publication on
October %.
Consul General Escobar begins his letter
by saying Former Presidents OF the
United States have stepped down from the
highest position obtainable by mortal man
70 become again private citizens Of this
great republic. and have carried with them
into their retirement the dignity Of their
Office and the respect OF their elbow coun-
trvmen. You have elected a different
course. and by capitalizing your Presidential
prestige as the paid employee Of a weekly
journal have forfeited the consideration due
to the high Office you once held. You can
now only pretend TO such respect as you as
a man deserve"
Senior Escobar then observes: Il say this
% make it quite clear that I am addressing
you as an individual, and DO not wish 20
reflect either upon the government or the
people Of the United States. for whom
have the deepest respect and regard"
Follows thereupon some brief quotations
from Mr.. Roosevelts article, and then this
comment by the Consul General Of Colon
bia:
In default OF argument, such is the IN
eeewlv language YOU use 70 Justify the raue
Of the isthmus ana refute the oft repeated
charges that you dealt unfairly with Co
lomhia, that YOU violated a public treaty in
which the United States had pledged IT'S
honor as a nation 20 guarantee the SOW
ereiguty Of Colombia over the isthmus. that
you recognized the fake Republic Of Pan
ANA in defiance OF the accepted principles
Of International law so as 20 permit your
friends who We're Interested IN the Panama
Canal Company 20 put through their
50. 10000 deal with the United States,
and that YOU prostituted the navy
u the United states TO the same ends
hiatt yOu-but why continue the long list
OF unanswered charges Instead OF an
swerng them. you hurl insults and SIAN
ders at the unfortunate country you
fOhOel or LtI most hd4ldII- possession.
When you speak of biackmailcrs ard
bandits, AIr. Roosevelt, have you forgotten
the ultimatum Won sent % Colombia
threatening her with dire results II her
Senate cid not ratify without amendment
the treaty written by the attorney for
the Panama Canal Company Have you
forgotten the American marines landed by
Admiral Glass and sent into the AtratO
region 70 Yavisa and Real de Santa Maria =?
Who was the blackmailer and the bandit
then? Who has told the truth about this
matter all along?
Was II you when you told Congress that
the people OF Panama rose literally as one
man. Was n you when YOU bOasted that
YOU took Panama and let Congress debate
Or was II you when you wrote that your
actions In this matter were as free from
scandal as the public acts Of George Wash
ingtor and Abraham Lincoln, and that
every action taken was not only proper
but was carried out IN accordance with
the highest finest and incest standards %
public and governmental ethicsE
7 think Colombia can safely leave these
questions T. be answered by the conscience
az the American people.
Mr. Roosevelt said last night that he pre-
ferred not 70 comment on or reply 10 Esco-
bar s letter.