The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-02-19
Congressman Rainey
Endorses Attitude
Of Minister OSpina

Characterlzing the attitude of the
United States toward Colombia as "in-
Hefensihle," Congressman Rainey of IL
Inols today issued lengthy statement
Endorsing the stand taken by Minister
pspina of Columbia.
Rainey is the author of a resolution
bow under consideration by the Foreign
Affairs Committee of the House calling
for an investigation of the Colombian
Panama question by the House. The
committee has heard voluminous testi-
nony as to the methods by which the
United States obtained the Panama
Canal Zone.
IL have Just read Minister Ospina' s
letter" said Rainey, land II forcibly
calls attention to our indefensible con-
duct for nearly ten years in refusing
Colombia the arbitration she HAS re-
uuested. II We had treated any of the
great world powers as Outrageously as
we have treated this little South Amer
kcan republic we would have become in
folved at once In great war.
In 1916 we entered into a solemn
treaty with Colombia guaranteeing her
sovereignty on the lsthmus of Panama.
I'm 1869 Colombia agreed to everything
we demanded in the way Of a Panama
canal and we entered into an agreement
with her, which, however was never
ratified.
Made Revolution Possible.
THE evidence l am presenting now
before the Foreign Affairs Committee
shows that, Notwithstanding our treaty
with Colombia, our State Department
tnd the President of the United States
made possible the alleged revolution OH
the, Isthmus of Panama. The plans for
tho revolution were developed in the
United States: the aid of this nation
was -. promised the revolutionists; the
President of the United States and the
State Department were parties to the
Evolution and war vessels and marines
were Sent, to the isthmus to make IT i'm
POSSIBLE fer Colombia to maintain the
sovereignty. on the isthmus which We
ourselves had guaranteed. Immediately
after the fake revolution we entered
Into a compact with the rev republic
Of Panama, guaranteeing her s0Ner-
eighty over the same territory.
us it any wonder Colombia has been
demanding arbitration? In view of our
present position on arbitration treaties,
ian we in honor longer refuse to give
this little republic the arbitration sh
has so vigorously demanded for nearly
decade?
some thousands of years, and there is q
disposition among nations all over the
world nov to apply the principles OF
lhe Ten Commandments to their deal
'lngs with each other.
THE statement has frequently been
made that Colombia agreed with us "a
hcCept a sum of money and afterward
demanded NOR, and that, there fore, We
fhe evidence before the Foreign AZ
fairs Committee shows ConClusiVely that
colombia had not asked :hat We spend
more money than We had alr"EdV iadi'
Hay-Horran treaty, by which Minister
Herran agreed to accept $l0,00O,OO0 fol
Colombia out Of the $i00o0.n30 we were
10 nay Inc French ComI any was never
In CnlCmbi4
twelve months from the time we tool
the canal the contract of Colombia witt
the French company would have OK
pireh, and all of the work the company
had done on the .isthmus would have
reverted to Colombia. This was tn"
situation in 1903. Colombia simply de-
handed that she receive a greater share
Of the $40, 100000
Worked With Promoter.
1.-THE President of the United
States ana our state Department
worked in harmony with New York
promoter representing the Frencl
companies in this country. The ef'
$4,000 0G0 to the 'penitentiary' stock
holdercse eof the new French compan!
in Paris French holdings in Panama
were worthless.
1--WE were the only possible pur'
chasers. We fixed the price ourselves
The French company would have &C
copied much less than $4O,OOO,OOO. II
our zeal to save as much as possible
for the 'penitentiary' stockholders W.
became a party to the revolution OF
the isthmus. Our conduct constitute
the black phase in our history as
nation. At time when we are open
ing this great world waterway con
Meeting the two oceans and are pre-
pairing to celebrate it's completion
what better thing can we do than t
say TO little Colombia: we are will
ing to let the Hague tribunal pas
upon the question you raised"