The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-22
COLOMBIAN NEGOTIATIONS.

maze aware OF inc seriousness WITT
which the Taft administration, Secre
tary Knox heading the movement, tool
up the question of undertaking TO settle
the demands Of Colombia against this
country on account Of the secession OF
Panama from the United States oi
Colombia. Some of the proposed nego
tiations have been made public, and now
Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraska has in.
troduced resolution calling for
all Of the correspondence. II
will be remembered that Colo.
mel Roosevelt, in a speech at Berke-
ley, California, in 1910, assumed a
plratical attitude and said that as
for Panama he "took it. and left Con.
gross to debate and smooth things over
later on. AS a matter of fact, he did
nothing Of the kind; but his admission
was promptly seized upon by the
Colombian government as making a
confession which was entirely in accord
with the claims of that country. that
the United States had enacted an in.
defensiblc, unlawful part in the seces.
sion of Panama
The question then arose, since We had
apparently admitted wrong done
against the United States of Colon.
bia, what we intended to do to re.
pair that wrong. Naturally money
indemnity was tho first thought, and
negotiations proceeded, il now appears,
on the basis that this country was will.
ing to make rcparation in money; but
Colombia fought shy, apparently feel
ing the strength Of its position after
President Roosevet's talk, and refused
all ovcrtures, demanding general arbi
trstion of the whole question.
1t appears that there were palavers
from time to time between the Amer
lean Minister TO Colombia and the
authorities Of that country. Our
Minister asked if SlO0O0,OO0 would be
accepted as rcparation, and the answer
was "No." The sum was raised
from time to time until il reached
the great amount OF $25,O0O.OO0, and
still the answer was "No - The
true meaning of this undoubtedly
was that the government Of Colombia
did not wish TO treat upon this mat
ter with the Taft government. since
President Taft was Secretary Of War
at the time of the Panama secession
from Colombia, and had directly to do |
with whatever was done by this coun-
try at that time, Undoubtedly, the |
election of Mr.. Wilson TO be Presi.
10 nf bo TTp;-
Colombia fresh hopes of bleeding this
country in a settlement, assuming that
The negotiations which we had pro.
posed were in fact an admission of |
onr guilt. But Secretary Knox was
extremely adroit, and while making
pliers that could easily be construed
as an admission of wrongdoing. and a
ieslre to make reparation therefor.
there was nothing in the language
which he actually used that made such
IN admission. The terms of his propo-
'ition for the basis of negotiations are
stated rs follows:
First-The ratification by Colombia of
ne triparutc treaty Of 1900. known as
he Knox -Arosemcna treaty by which
"a mama agrees 10 apportion the annual
payment 10 her by tho United States of
he sum OF $3.50. 900 for the canal cession
lain Colombia might have against the
United States TO the amount OF
10. .00O 900.
= Second-The payment OF $40. 900. 600 10
Tor an option on the Atrato in
eroceAnic canal route and for the cession
u sites for coalinG stations at ST. An
irews and Old Providence.
Thlrd-Ihe offer OF the friendly infu-
nee OF the United states with Panama
% make An adjustment between the re-
'uollc OF Panama and the United States
y COLOMBIA on account Of the cessIon
states.
Fourth-Submisslon TO arbitration Of
ne claim bearing upon the reversionary
DAD.
These propositions, taken together,
mount to a proffer 10 Colombia of
2O,OOO,0OO. half on each of two ac.
cunts The first proposition admits
ubstantially that the United States
) under obligation to pay TO Colombia !
100000 for the canal cession. Br, /
this is true, we buy that concession
vice, first from Panama for $4,000 .
90 and now from Colombia for n like ,
mount.
The second proposition, TO pay slO.- .
100000 for an option on the Atrato -,
lteroceanic canal route and for sites
or coaling stations at ST. Andrews d
nd Old Providence simply means that
e would pay another $4,000. 900 10
olombia for nothing, for the posi-.
lhty OF utilizing the Atrato inter ;
seauie canal route is utterly ncplic.
'le, while nc would have no pos I
bic use for coaling stations at St. n
ndrews and Old Providence. a
The third proposition involves l.
lpartite agreement between this q
'untry, Panama, and Colombia for the i
liustment Of the account between St
anama and Colombia involving the q
'ssion of the Panama canal zone. o
his would possibly imply an oblipa. p
on on the part of Panama. reeop a
zed by this government. 10 paw over 5
Colombia part Of the $4,000. 900 Z
hich Panama has received from the :