The Washington herald., 1914-06-19
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Want WILSON TO
WITHDRAW PACT
President S Friends IN Senate
Desire Investigation Into
Canal Zone Acquisition.
WOULD EXPOSE DEAL
Plan to Show Country Why ldemnity
to Colombia Il Unstable May
Call Roosevelt.
WOULD EXPOSE DEAL


Call Roosevelt.
President Wilson and Secretary Bryan
will be urged by some Of their friends
In the Senate to withdraw the Columbian
treaty for the present pending an inves-
tieation by the Senate into the clrcum-
stances surrounding the acquisition by
the United States Of the Canal Zone
strip from the Republic Of Panama
From this acquisition arises the claim
of Colombia which the treaty seeks to
meet with a s., 900. 900 Indemnity
The suggestion will be made with the
double view of informing the country
why, in the eyes Of the administration.
the 81, ,Ooo, 900 indemnity In justinable. ana.
secondly, with a view to exposing to the
country the part played by then Presi-
dent Roosevelt, william Nelson crom-
well, and others In the acqoisition-
The resolution. II the plan is accepted
by the administration, VIII demand that
Col. Roosevelt. Mr.. Cromwell, and others
be called as witnesses.
May Embarrass Administration.
The proposal Is born also OF the recog-
milton of q legislative situation In the
Senate which Is likely to be emoarrass-
ing to the administration. Senator Borah
viii introduce q resolution soon. accord
ing to an intimation. he gave yesterday.
directing that discussion OF the treaty
be carried on in open Senate. II this
resolution should be adopted. would
undoubtedly initiate a public debate m
the senate that would run along for
many weeks and probably interfere with
the plans for expediting the administra-
tion trust program Of legislation.
II the Democrats refuse to open the
doors for a public debate on the treaties
they are likely to be criticised. The in
dications are that neither the Colombian
nor the Nicaraguan treaty has any snow
Of being ratified at this session OF Con-
xress. It is doubtful IL either OF them
ts reported to the Senate. The opposi-
tion is increasing, and the Democratic
senators are now agreed there must be
a complete investigation not only OF all
the circumstances surrounding the Co
lumbian treaty, but also az to the MIC
araguan pact.
II is probable that representatives OF
Brown Bros. and the Seligmans, VINO
hold the bonds OF Nicaragua and have
acquired franchises in that country. VIII
be called before the COMMITTEES to be
heard on the extent Of the holdings by
the bankers, the amount and character
of the securities held. what they paid
for them, and what the present value Is.
Promises Complete Probe.
Chairman Stone, Of the Foreign Reia-
tions Committee, said yesterday, after
the committee adjourned. that every
phase of the Nicaraguan situation Will
he investigated by the committee He
intimated that representatives OF the
New York bankers might be called
Chairman Stone said the question OF ex-
tending the power and influence OF the
United States of Central America as Is
contemplated by the Platt amendment
to the Nicaragua treaty. was very I'm
portant matter and that the reasons for
n ouab. to be understood and that the
viewpoint OF the Safe Department, as
well as that Of the people of Nicaragua
and all the financial interests involved.
should be disclosed.
Secretary Bryan admitted before the
Foreign Relations Committee yesterday
when he appeared to continue his expla-
nation begun Tuesday in defense OF the
Colombian and Nicaraeuan treaties, tnat
the banker-creditors Of Nicaragua owned
81 per cent of the stock OF the Nicara-
guam railroad, and that they have a
mortsaee on the remaining - per cent to
secure a loan Of 81 900. 900. Mr.. Bryan ex-
planned that it was very necessary that
the treaty with Nicaragua be ratified
promptly so that the 100000 which the
United States is to pay Nicaragua under
the treaty may be promptly paid over
and a part Of 1t applied to extinguishing
the S,OOo,OO0 mortgage on 4S per cent Of
the stock of the railroad. Otherwise,
there will be foreclosure proceedings very
soon.
Smith Issues Statement.
Senator William Alden Smith issued a
peppery statement after the committee
adjourned, in which he charged that
Nicaragua was overrun with American
officeholders who had been forced upon
the pay rolls as the result Of the Amer
lean intervention there. He forced an
admission from Secretary Bryan, In the
course of the hearing, that there was an
unpleasant situation Of this kind there,
which Mr.. Bryan described as another
heritage from the last administration,
which the Secretary thought he could
cure II the Senate would only ratify the
treaty he had submitted. Senator Smiths
statement, given to the press, was as
follows:
II assert without any hesitation that
the salary roll of American employees IN
the Republic Of Nicaragua will exceed
s100. 900 a year, and I would not be sur
prised il 1t was $15o.ooo, these salaries
being paid to Americans under pressure
OF our government Dy tne iiPcNeiishSu
government of Nicaragua.
''One OF the most unquestionable
phases of latter-day American govern
ment is the so-called dollar diplomacy
in our relations with Central America.
1t reflects no credit upon US as q nation.
Ministers and pienipotentiaries or
Central America. or consuls of those
countries no longer take up their af-
fairs with the United States government.
Most of the business Of the Latin
American Bureau of our State Depart
ment Is conducted by lawyers, some
of whom become experts in that field.
Il cannot too strongly condemn this
practice which has been growing, neither
do look with any favor whatever upon
private banking interests mbnopo1izing
the financial affairs and the public serv-
ice corporations Of Central American
states. Their exactions are too onerous
to be borne by these small countries. and
sooner or later they bring Americans
and the American government into dis
repute in that part of the world
Political intrigue by the vast bank
ing and commercial interests frequently
results in placing officers in power who
are not the free choice Of the people of
those countries and sometimes our ma
rines are used, as in Nicaragua, to assist
In the establishment Of q new govern
ment and It's maintenance"
Secretary Bryan's friend. Charles A.
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