The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-13

consider, namely, that placed upon
the loss by the preceding admins
tration. While there is a dispute as
F., to whether Mr.. Dubois exceeded his
authority in the proposition that he
made, there is no doubt that he was
authorized to make known to Co
lombia that the United States would
offer as the basis of a treaty, if as
sured of acceptance by Colombia,
$40. 100000 for the Atrata river
canal route and arbitration of the
reversionary interest of Colombia in
the railroad. This reversionary in
terest was valued at about $16,000,-
600, which would have been the sum
awarded to Colombia if the arbitra-
tion was decided in her favor. The
$40, 100000 for the Atrata route, and
the $10,000,000 was evidently in
tended more as liquidated damages
than as the price of the canal route
together with the value of the re-
versionary interest in the railroad
would amount to $26,OOO,O00.
"But Mr.. Dubois went further than
this, and suggested arbitration of
canal lease, which might have added
some $17,O0G,000 more, and, then,
upon his own responsibility, in order
to sound Colombia as to her demand,
asked if she would consider $25, 5,000,-
600 with the arbitration of the re-
versionary interest in the railroad |
and without granting any privileg.
whatever. This question, while un-
could not but create in
the minds of the people of Colombia
the idea that this government was
willing to 60 further than its formal
offer.
Reference is made to what has
been done because former estimates
created expectations which made it
to secure a treaty on more
favorable terms than those embodied
in the present treaty. 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 iden-
tical in meaning and almost identi-
cal in words with the expression of
regret to be found in the Dubois
memorandum.
eff cordial relations are to be re-
stored with Colombia, they must be
restored on basis that is satisfac-
tory to Colombia. Friendships can
not rest upon force; neither can they
rest upon acquiescence in the power
Of might. Even If Colombia, under
protest and against the Judgment of
her people, accepted less sum than
hat which we offer, it would not re-
store the relations that ought to ex-
st. We must satisfy their sense of
Justice, although less sum might
satisfy our sense of justice. In every
settlement there must be concessions
md our government has not conced-
ID more than the requirements of the
situation demand.
"The ratification of the Colombian
reaty will restore the friendly rela- [
ions which for century preceding d
|903 existed between Colombia and
he United States. 1t will also en- {
lble Colombia and Panama to settle
heir differences and deal with each
'ther upon a neighborly basis. More c
han that, it will give prestige to th- {
United States throughout Spanish ;
america. This nation can afford to
'e just; even more, it can afford to
'e generous in the settling of dis
,utes, especially when by it's gen.
rosity it can increase the friendli-
less of the many millions of Central |
nd South America with whom our s
citations become daily more init '
nate"
z