Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-04-09
COLOMBIA AGREES
TO SETTLE CANAL
CLAIMS FOR cash.
Foreign Office Approves New
Treaty, Providing for $685.
100000 Payment.From
the United States.
SENATE MUST APPROVE IT
Not Known What Washington
Administration Has. Done,
But Fight in Congress
Seems Likely.
SENATE MUST APPROVE 1T

washington, April s.--'Fwenty Ave
million dollars Is the amount the Uni
ted States agrees to pay to. Colombia
Tor the partition OF Panama and the
ACQUISITION Of tho canal zone in the
treaty signed in Bosota by American
Minister Thompson and the Colombian
authorities. This was stated here to-
day at the Colombian legation.
No rights for a new interoceanis
canal across Colombia by the Atrats
river route and no coaling privileges on
SAN Andreas and Providencia islands
off the Colombian coast:sit was added,
We're contained in the treaty.
While the Colombian minister, Senor
batancourt. received q cable. from his
foreign office informing him of the
signing of the agreement the state de-
partment was still awaiting word from
MIR. Thompson
The boundary between Colombia and
Panama is to follow the line laid down
IN an earlier treaty. which. was signed
but never approved by the Colombian
which the South American republic has
been insisting on, the frees passage Of
her merchant vessels through the
canal, was given up because of Presi-
dent Wilson'S attitude i'm favor OF tho
repeal OF the tolls exemption. That had
been stumbling block i'm the way ot
final agreement
The Colombian congress will ba
called in special session to pass on the
treaty before it is submitted to tho
Senate here
The greatest Importance Is attached
by the Washington government to the
consummation Of this agreement ae 1t
would dispose OF one OF the most trou-
blesome questions with which the
United States has ever had to deal IN
tInflS. NS,Sf1 O%s,
End of Long Fight.
Acceptance of the latest treaty will
end 10 years of negotiations and friction
between the United States and Colom-
bia and relieve strained diplomatic re-
lations.
Colombia insisted that the United
States either pay lump sum for the
canal zone it acquired when the rs-
public of Panama was set up overnight
with guarantees OF integrity from
Washington or that the whole question
be submitted to The Hague for arbi-
ira ton.
The last negotiations were just at
the close OF President Tafts adminis-
tration, when Minister Dubois, under
instructions OF Secretary Knox offered
q settlement on this basis:
Ratification by Colombia Of the So
called tripartite treaty Of 1909. also
known as the Knox -Arosemena treaty.
by which Panama agreed to apportfon
with Colombia the annual payment Of
s250.oC0 which she receives from the
United States as rent for the canal
zone for Il sufficient period to liquidate
any claim of Colombia's up to $le,ee4.-
600.
Payment of $4,000. 900 cash to Col
ombia by the United States for an ep-
ton for the Atrato river canal route
and coaling sites Mt St. Andreas and old
Providencia.
An offer OF the friendly influence Of
the United States with Panama for an
adjustment between Panama ana Col
ombia over the partition.
An offer to arbitrate reversionaFv
rights in Panama.
Knox Offer Rejected.
The Colombian foreign office rejected
the plan because it omitted to recog-
niZe the claim OF sovereignty ever Fan
anna.
The Atrato canal option would have
continued fer IS years. during which
Colombia would have enjoyed the sum
of $4,000, 600 with interest; she might
have recovered from her claims IL
Panama railroad had an arbitration
been in her favor. some S1S.oeo.0oe:
other claims were estimated at some
S33 100000 In all, had Colombia wen
all her contentious. her recovery woaaQ
have totaled more than s9o,000,0 zoe.
Just before going out OF office. Pres
ident Taft transmitted a letter to con-
xreSs containing secretary knoxS re-
port of the negotia tions. saying that
Colombia by refusal. had CLOSED the
door TO any future svertures by the
United States.
Secretary Hay had previously de-
clned to submit Colombia's claims to
arbitration on the ground. they were
political and not justifiable: and fdrth-
er that they might call in the question
OF the right of Panama to exist as .
sovereign state.
Soon after President Wilson took Of
flee the negotiations We're reopened and
have been proceeding steadily to the
conclusion reached yesterday At BE-
gotta when a treaty was signed.
1t is assumed here that the Colom-
| bian foreign office would not approve
a treaty which the congress of the
country would be unlikely to ratify.
How far the administration here has
gone toward sounding the Senate ON
it's proposals is not known. and any
preliminary steps looking toward rati-
ncation probably will not be taken until
the terms of the convention have been
fully transmitted to Secretary Bryan
and he has privately advised senator's
OF the foreign relations committee.
COPPER STATEMENT.