Evening star., 1914-07-13

ton, being much the larger nation, and
having refused to arbitrate, takes upon
itself the responsibility of doing justice
to Colombia Not only Is IT our GUY 70 70
doubt as to what is just We must resolve
that doubt against ourselves and In favor
of Colombia
Colombia feels that she has been
aggrieved, and whatever may be said as
to whether or not this feeling is justified.
no one will deny that she has sustained
great financial loss in the separation OF
Panama from her. Before the separation
took place. this government offered CO.
lombia SO. 900 for the canal route and
$25O,OOO a year for one hundred years.
This annuity might be capitalized at
about 81 .5OO.O 600. SO that this government 8
estimate of the loss suffered by Colombia
could not be less than about $lt,JOOoO
But that estimate was made upon the
supposition that Colombia would retain
the state or department Of Panama. The
retention of Panama would have given to
Colombia not only the value of Panama.
but the incidental benefits to be derived
from proximity to the canal. We can
not deny. therefore. that the actual loss
to Colombia was considerably more than
S25 900. .OO.
Taft Offer to Colombia.
But we have later estimate to con-
slider. namely. that placed upon the loss
by the preceding administration. While
there is dispute as to whether Mr. Du-
Bots exceeded his authority in the propo-
sition that he made. there is no doubt
that he was authorized to make known
to Colombia that the United States would
offer as the basis of treaty. If assured
of acceptance by Colombia. $4,000. 900 for
the Atrata river canal route and arbitra-
ton Of the reversionary interest Of Co
lonibia in tho railroad. This revers1onary
interest was valued at about $4,000. 600.
which would have been the sum awarded
to Colombia II the arbitration was de-
the Atrata route-and the $1OOOO.OoO was
evidently intended more as hquidated
damages than as the price Of the canal
route-together with the value Of the re-
versionary interest in the railroad would
amount to S26.O0O,O0O.
But Mr.. Dubois went further than
this. and suggested arbitration of a canal
lease. which might have added some ST.
O0o, 600 more. and then. upon his own re-
sponsibility. In order to sound Colombia
consider s25.OOO,OoO with the arbitration
of the reversionary interest in the rail-
road and without granting any privileges
whatever This question. while unauthor-
ized. could not but create in the minds
of the people of Colombia the idea that
this government was willing to go further
than its formal offer.
Reference is made to what has been
done because former estimates created
expectations which made it impossible to
secure a treaty on more favorable terms
than those embodied in the present
treaty.
Same Expression Of Regret.
THE Canal Zone concessions contained
in the treaty are substantially those en-
bodied in the Root-Cortez treaty. which
was not ratified by Colombia, and the
expression Of regret is identical in mean
ing and almost identical in words with
the expression Of regret to be found in
the Dubois memorandum.
III cordial relations are to be restored
with Colombia they must be restored on
basis that is satisfactory to Colombia
Friendships cannot rest upon force:
neither can they rest upon acqu1escence
in the power of might. Even If Colombia.
under protest and against the judgment OF
her people. accepted less sum than that
which We offer. it would not restore the
relations that ought to exist. We must
satisfy their sense of justice. although a
less sum might satisfy our sense Of JUS
tice. In every settlement there must be
concessions and our government has not
conceded more than the requirements OF
the situation demand.
The ratification OF the Colombian
treaty will restore the friendly relations
which for a century preceding 1903 exist
ed between Colombia and the United
States. 1t will also enable Colombia and
Panama to settle their differences and
deal with each other upon neighborly
tige to the United States throughout