The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-02
Sends Special Message to
the Senate Bearing on
Report of Secretary
of State Knox
COLOMBIA MUST
+ MAKE PROPOSALS
FOR SETTLEMENT
Reviews Controversy Over Separation
of Panama--Colombian Govern
ment Thought Anxious to
Deal With the Incoming
Administration

washington, March LIN = special
message reviewing the controversy
with Colombia over the separation of
Panama. President TAFT today trans-
mitted to the Senate n report by Sec-
Rotary Knox. which declared that CO.
lombia's fiat rejection of preliminary
settlement proposals. by the United
States have closed the door to any
further overtures ON the part of the
United states.
The report suggested thatNa hope
prevalent in Colombia that the incom-
ing democratic administration would
agree to settlement on more liberal
terms. was responsible for Colon
bias attitude at this time. American
Minister Beaupre learned unofficially
that this hope existed and that the
Colombian government desired to treat
with the new administration.
Secretary Knox stated in his report
that efforts of the state department 10
replace the relations of the two coun-
tries in state of cordial friendship
and mutual confidence. was inspired by
the Presidents conviction that to do
so. so far as consistent with the Dig
nifty and honor of the United States and
with the principles of justice. was a
plain duty. He pointed out, however,
that as tho subject of arbitration was
now being urged by Colombia, it seem
ed obvious that no terms of arbitral
submission could be entertained, which
might call In question the right OF
Panama to exist as a sovereign state.
Quotes From Hay
Supporting this view he quoted from
, Secretary Hay a declination to turn
The Hague tribunal because the ques-
4 tions presented in the Colombian
statement OF grievances" were of a
political nature. and not within the
domain of Judicial decision. The re-
port criticised the Colombian govern
ment for repeated failure to carry out
its engagements during tho course of
the negotiations and asserted that the
Hay-Perren treaty of 1903 failed be-
cause the Colombian president by an
dtHiZlA& QtPoltuiG 4tOAi tliO III iattitt
of nations. declined to recommend Tor
approval a treaty signed under the ex-
plicit direction of his predecessor. lie
charged that the negotiation of
the subsequent treaties-those
framed by Secretary Root for
adjustment of all questions between the
three countries-actually were proposed
by the government of Colombia itself,
which now had refused to give them
effect. Reference Is made to the very
inconsisten reversion of the Colombian
representative to attempt to create
false issues. followed on one occasion
by the virtual recall of one of the
plenipotentiaries.
The Secretary admitted that Colombia
has suffered by her failure to reap her
share OF the benefits of the canal, saying
this was the explanation of the endeavor
of the United States to accommodate
the conflicting interests of the three par
ties by the conventional fixation of q just
measure of compensation. in money or in
material equivalence" The course of the
United States, he added, was marked by
kindly forbearance and equitable gener-
0sity.'
The Ospina Incident
Secretary Knox touched upon the Ospina
incident, when on the eve of his depart
ure on a mission of good will to the re-
publics of the Caribbean, personal in