The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-04-16
TO PAY COLOMBIA
FOR CANAL ZONE
Treaty Signed at BOgOta Agree
ing on $25, ,OOO,OOO.
CLAIM is OF LONG STANDING
The Colombian Congress VIII Be
Called Into Special Session To
Ratify lt-contains No Rights
For a New Canal.

Washington, d. c. - Undisguised
qualification is felt by administration
officials here at the prospect of finally
healing the breach between the United
States and Colombia through the treaty
! just signed at Bogota. II this conven-
tion Is ratified by the Senates of the
two countries, as the officials are con-
fident it will be, 1t will close amicably
bitter controversy, brought on by
the secession of Panama in 1903 and
the granting to the United States the
Canal Zone and which has cast blight
upon the relations between the United
States and all Latin America.
The principal article of the treaty
provides for the payment to Colombia
of S25, 100000 six months after ratifica-
tions have been exchanged between the
two countries, as indemnity for the
losses she has sustained. This is
granted in lump sum. and the treaty
does not attempt to specify how much
of this amount is in reparation for the
loss of Panama or how much for the
loss of the Panama Railway rights.
Colombia is granted the right to ship
coal, salt and petroleum from her At
lantic to her Pacific ports, either
through the canal or across the Pan
anna Railway, without any charge other
than the cost of freight, no duty being
assessed. These articles are not pro
duced along the Pacific side of the
country and there is no. easy communi-
cation over land through Colombia on
account Of the high Andes Mountains.
Fixes Boundary Line.
A third article fixes the boundary
line between Colombia and Panama
and restores to the latter a strip of ter
ritory which has been claimed by Pan
ANA. This line is the same as that
which was provided in the Cortes-
Arosemena treaty between Colombia
and Panama, one of the tripartite
treaties never ratified by Colombia, ex-
cept that 1t fixes definitely the point on
the Pacific Coast where the boundary
terminates, which is to be midway
between Points Cocoalita and Ardita.
The former treaty left this point to be
settled by tribunal of arbitration to
be appointed Even after the approval
Of the present treaty by the Colombian
and American Senates, a treaty be-
tween Colombia and Panama will be
necessary before this boundary settle
ment Is final The United States
agrees to use its good Offices with Pan
ANA in the matter
Another article expresses the hope
that friendly relations between the
United States and Colombia may con.
tinue from this time forward.
No rights for a new interoeeanic
canal across Colombia by the Atrato
River route, and no coalng privileges
on San Andreas and Providencia Is
lands, off the Colombian coast, il was
added, were contained in the treaty.
While the Colombian minister.
Senior Betancourt, received a cable
from his foreign office, informing him
of the signing Of the agreement, the
State Department was still awaiting
word from Mr.. Thompson.
The Colombian Congress will be
called in special session to pass on the
treaty before 1t is submitted to the
Senate here.