The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-19
STIR Up TROUBLE
OVER Panama
c.,onbian Minister ospIna Sends
Word That Visit Of Secretary
Knox Would be In
opportune.
that ARoUsEs RA1NEY
Congressman Says United States Did
Not Act Fair and Square
In Central Amer
lea.

limited Press Leased Wire Service.l |
WASHINGTON. FEB. 19. Because
!. colombian Minister Ospina specific
ally declared in his letter to Secretary
Knox, that in his view. the secretary's
visit to Colombia would be 'inoppor-
tune, was purely personal one. the
state department today refused all
comment on the diplomatic situation
thus created. 1t was expected that
Secretary Knox, at Palm Beach, would
also repress his personal views In
answer to Ospina's letter.
Not speaking for publication, state
department. officials were inclined to
doubt that Ospina acted unofficially
for Colombia in his suggestion and
placed a political Interpretation on the
matter. The opinion was expressed
By high official that Ospina's move
was perhaps made at the direction OF
his government with view to gain
ing the support of house democrats"
Ii was pointed out that Ospina's let
fer TO acting Secretary OF State VIII
son would probably be made the basis
Of an Investigation by the house
democrats and would be used as an
entering wedge OF a probe OF the
Colombia Panama controversy. The
question is now under consideration by
the house foreign affairs committee in
connection with Representative Rain
ey's resolution
Characterizing the attitude of the
United States toward. Colombia as
'indefensible, Representative Rainey
tdems IIl) today issued lengthy
statement endorsing the stand taken
by Minister Ospina, of Colombia,
against the American government.
Minister Ospina's letter forcibly
recalls attention to our indefensible
conduct for nearly ten years in refus-
ing Colombia the arbitration she has
requested" Rainey said. IF we had
treated any of the great world powers
as outrageously as we have treated
this little South American republic, we
would have become involved at once
In a great war.
In 1916 we entered into solemn
treaty with Colombia guaranteeing her
soyerignity on the Tsthmus of Panama
In 1869 Colombia agreed to our de
manded right OF way of the Panama
canal and we entered into an agree
ment with her which, however, wa:
never ratified
The evidence am presenting now
before the foreign affairs committee
shows that notwithstanding our treat,
with Colombia, our state department
and the president of the United States
made possible the alleged revolution
on the Isthmus of Panama. Immed
lately after the fake revolution, We en-
tered into a compact with the new re
public of Panama guaranteeing he
sovereignty over the same territory. l
Il any wonder Colombia has been de
manding arbitration? In view of on
present position on arbitration treat
les can we in honor, longer refuse t
give this little republic the arb traitor
she has SO vigorously demanded fo
nearly decade?
The statement has frequentl
been made that Colombia agreed wit
us TO accept sum Of money an
afterwards demanded more and tha
therefore We We're justified in takin
the canal zone. The evidence befor
the foreign affairs committee show
conclusively that Colombia had ne
asked that we spend more money tha
We had already indicated we wer
willing to cpend.
In our zeal to save as much q
pssible for the 'penitentiary' stoc
holders of the French company, W
became party to the revolution.
Our conduct constitutes the blae
phase In our history as nation. 4
time when we were opening tn
great world waterway connecting Il
two oceans and are preparing to Gel
brate its completion what better thii
can we do than TO say to lit
Colombia: We are willing to let I'll
Hague tribunal pass upon the que
ton you raise?'"
Denies Any Trouble.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. Feb. 19.-Liel
Frank Bloom of the Fourth field
tillery denies that he is defendant
a charge of conduct unbecoming
officer" as the result of an excfan
Of blows with non-commission
Officer.
The story is untrue said Lie
Bloom. Z am in no trouble at Fs