Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-02-19
BLACKLIST PAGE
IN OUR HISTORY
Taking of Panama Canal
Zone by President Roose-
welt Denounced
PROTEST FROM COLOMBIA
1t May Cause Secretary Knox
to Change South American
Itinerary.

BY Special Leased ware TO New ?irex1can,
Washington. D. c., Feb. 19-NO
change was made today in the timer
ary OF Secretary Of State Knoxs trip
to Central America because Of the
Colombian minister's letter OF protest
The department Will await woru dir
ect from the Bogota government be-
lore altering its plans.
Some intimatou, either diplonati-
cally confirming or ropudiating the
action OF its representative in Wash
ington, is expected within the next
twenty-four hours. No action on any
thing in the matter is possible before
tomorrow.
The letter incident brought out a
statement today by Representative
Rainey of Illinois, author of a resOlu-
ton to submit Colombia s damage
claims to arbitration, n which he de-
nounced the methods Ised by the |.
S. to acquire the Panama canal zone
Minister Ospina's letter." he said,
"forcibly calls attention TO our indie
fensible conduct for nearly ten years
in refusing Colombia The arbitration
she has requested
The Panama incident. which has
been the subject of committee inyes-
tigation was denounced by llr. Raj
ney as the blackest page in our his
terry as a nation. He charged that
the revolution was engineered by "a
New York promoter With the sane
ton and aid Of President Roosevelt
and the state department.
Disappointment in Colombia.
Profound disappointment on receiy-
ing inumations that Secretary Knox
did not contemplate giving Colombia
any assurance of the ultimate arbi-
tration OF her claims against the Unit
ed States, was generally ascribed to-
day as the reason for the expression
from Senor Pedro Mel Ospina, that a
visit by Mr.. Knox to this country at
the present time would be "inoppor-
tune"
Enthusiastic at First.
Ii developed today that when Senior
| Ospina first read the White House
announcement Il week ago stating
! that President Taft directed the Sec
/ retary of State 10 visit the countries
bordering on the Caribbean Sea, he
hailed it with unconccaied enthusi-
lasm.
| In a statement of comment on the
Knox trip, prepared at that time. but
not made public until today, the Col
omban Minister fOresaW a possible
! recognition by the United States OF
the demands Of Colombia for arbitra-
ton of the differences growing out Of
the partition Of Panama and the ac-
QUESTION by this government of the
Canal Zone trip.
IF Mr. Knox. as | sincerely hope"
wrote Senor Ospina at the time, lis
now fully cognizant Of all the facts
loH which the claims of Colombia rest,
/ l have no doubt that his visit to M
country will be fruitful, for he will
find that the popular feeling which at
present prevails there. as in most all
South American countries with re-
gard to the United States was mainly
caused by tue manner in which thai
| Colombia, was treated in 1903 and
! 1904 in connection with the severance
of Panama, and by there having been
50 far no equitable settlement of Col
ombia's claims growing out of that
conduct. An good Colonbians are
heartily desirous that such a feeling
there, as elsewhere in South America,
be appeased. The sooner the better;
it is never too late to do right. Col
ombia does not ask that her conten-
tions be accepted at her assertion.
She has simply demanded for the
last eight years that her claims be ar
bitrated so that, whatever the result
OF that arbitration may be, confidence
land sincere friendship with the con-
sequent development of increasing
commercial relations with the United
States be restored
Situation Has Changed.
Senior Ospina smiled when he was
reminded Of that comment today.
The situation has changed" he
said, g 1t is different now"
Visit Would Be lnopportune.
During the week, it is reported, in.
timations came to the Colombian milt.
ister that Secretary Knox was not
bound on mission of pacification of
. Latin-Anerican troubles To Senor
Ospina who on Nov. % last, present
ed a third request from his govern
ment for arbitration and to which no
reply had come, the expected benefit
of the Knox trip vanished. His letter
to acting Secretary Huntington Will
{ son, of the state department express.
/. ing his personal views that Mr.. Knox's
( trip would not be timely, followed as
{ a consequence.
81 Though Senior Ospina in that let
( ter emphasized that he was speak
( ing on his own behalf and without
: instruction from his government. il