New-York tribune., 1912-03-11
Ready to Support Claim Against
United States in Return for
Naval Bases, Washing
ton Hears.
MONROE DOCTRINE AT STAKE
Kaiser's Battleship Programme
Shows Point Is Being Reached
Where Foothol6 Here
Gould Be Main
tanned.

washington. March lO.-Information
uhich is causing the administration the
eravest concern has brought out the fact
tbat recent negotiations between the
Xaisers government and the govern
ment of Colombia have resulted in an
agreement which contemplates the trans
for IN Germany of certain harbors on the
Atlantic coast of Colombia, within strik-
ing distance Of the northern entrance TO
the Panama Canal
Mr. Taft and his advisers have already
,oken stems to meet what they realize
will as soon as the facts are KNOWN oe
regarded by the whole American people
as p defiance Of the Monroe Doctrine ny
both Colombia and Germany
This information has become known
since Secretary of state Knox sailed
.uro r,eazs ago on his tour Of Central and
South America, and has been fully con-
frmed in well informed naval circles
II throws light on the recent emphaIi'
renewal Of pressure brought TO bear on
orr government by Colombia FOR q
prornpt settlement of its claim for IN
demnitv-now understood to amount TO
nracticauv 100000 OOO-for the loss of
the territory now comprised in the Re
public of Panama.
Would Force Action on Claims.
According to this information Colon
bia. with the mailed fist Of Germany be-
hind her, is backing up her demands
with the threat that if our government
does not meet her views, or at least
agree to arbitrate. Colombia will dispose
of these harbors, either by lease or by
outright sale to Germany thus assuring
to the latter power not only base Of
supplies for a fleet but a foothold or
American soil. such as has long beer
coveted and planned for by the Kaiser.
It is this understanding with Germany,
II is declared, that accounts for the per
sonal" letter Of the late Colombian Min
ister at Washington. Seilor Pedro Mel
Ospina, to the state Department. assert
ing that Secretary Knox would not be
welcome visitor to his country during the
Secretarys present tour In inner circles
in Washington doubt exists that there
was complete understanding between the
government at Bogota and its repre-
sentative here.
II anything were lacking to confirm
that view 1t is furnished by the fact that
the intimation that visit from the Sec
retary Of State would be inopportune
was reviewed by the charge d'affaires Of
the Colombian Legation almost imme-
diately after the recall of Senior Ospina-
a recall which, it may be asserted on the
highest authority. was not demanded by
this government, which from the first
has professed to make light Of the Ospina
incident.
As a matter Of fact, there is the best
reason for believing that since the
knowledge of Germanys negotiations
with Colombia reached the State Depart
ment and the Navy Department from
their confidential agents abroad the adj
ministration has regarded the situation
as one Of most serious significance.
Mr.. Knox May Settle Claim.
1t is even asserted that the principal
reason for Secretary KnoX's trip is to
enable him in person to sound the CO.
lombian government as To the possibility
Of settlement Of its claim, and that
whether or not Mr.. Knox actually sets
foot on Colombian SOIL an opportunity
will be found TO talk the matter over
quietly with an authorized representa-
tive of the Bogota government in some
quiet spot far removed from newspaper
men or interested foreigners.
The appearance Of Germany as pos
sible supporter of Colombia is regarded
here as the latest proof Of the Kaiser's
willingness TO challenge the Monroe
Doctrine. The history of Germany's IN
triguing to get a foothOld OH American
soil, although it has not yet been writ
ten, is, of course, well known in naval
circles. The best informed officers OF
the l. Wy have long been convinced thAt
the steady increase in the German fleet
has been aimed, not at England and not
al France but at the United States, ana
that it is not Japan, in the Pacific, that
we need to watch most closely, but Ger
many in the Atlantic; that it is with rcr
rapidly increasing battleships that we
shall eventually have 10 try conclusions.
At present there is little difference IN
the relative power of the United States
and the German fleets. 1t is significant,
however, that the German rate of in
crease has been far greater than that OF
the United States during the last three
years
German Navy Growing Fast.
By April, 1913. the Germans. according
to their schedule. will have in their high
sea feet thirteen dreadnoughts and SUI
per-dreadnoughts, against eight Of the
same classes in ours II is also pointed
out that Germany has. either built or
building. five cruiser battleships. TO not
single one Of the United States either
built or projected. Moreover, the rate OF
Increase Of expenditure on the German
navy has been in the last three years l23
per cent, to our ~ per cent
BY 1915. If the same rates of increass :
are maintained, Germany will have
thirty-four battleships and the United
States thirty.
These figures make II clear that the
German feet is outstripping ours, am
that unless Congress authorizes four
Dreadnoughts at the present session and
at least three annually as long as Ger
many adheres TO her present programme
Germany win be In position by 1Oio
to back UP any demands she may see o
10 make in pursuing her colonization
policy in South America.