Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-23
7. R. WOULD TELL
SENATORS WHY HE
OPPOSES TREATY
Requests Be Given Opportunity to
Appear Before Foreign Rels.
tions Committee.
WRITES A LETTER TO STONE
Says Would Like to Be Heard From
in Pact Likely Favorably
Acted On.
TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY
Had knowledge of Everything and
Solely Responsible.
CHAIRMAN rs AGAINST PLAN
Missourian IL Opposed TO Letting 3
Colonel Voice His Views In
Regard to Colombia Con-
ventiOn.
TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY
Had knowledge of Everything and
Solely RTponsible.
CHAIRMAN IS AGAINST PLAl

WASHINGTON, July IA request
from Colonel Roosevelt for an oppor-
tunity 20 appear before tho senate for
eign relations committee in opposition to
the Colombian treaty was considered to-
day by the committee, without action,
however, as Chairman Stone was unable
to marshal a quorum. Colonel Roose-
welt wrote Chairman Stone he wanted
TO tell why he opposed paying $25, ,OOO
TO Colombia for the partition OF Panama.
'1 replied to Colonel Roosevelts letter
personally, saying that 1 would submit
the matter of hearings on the Colombian
treaty and his appearance before 1t to
the committee" said Senator Stone. Il
don't know what they will do about It,.
HASN'T Set Date.
The Missouri senator said he had not
set a date for another meeting of the
committee.
Later Senator Stone made public Colonel
Roosevelts letter, in which the former
president wrote:
"If there is any intention of your COM
nittee to act favorably on the proposed
treaty with Colombia, by which we are
to pay Colombia $25, 100000 and to express
regret for the action taken in the past, I
respectfully request to be heard thereon.
"I was president throughout the time
Of the negotiations. first with Colombia.
and then with Panama, by which we
acquired the right to build the Panama
canal. Every act sf this government in
connection with these negotiations and
with other proceedings for taking posses
sion of the canal zone and beginning the
building Of the canal was taken by my
express direction or else in carrying out
the course Of conduct / as president
had laid down.
Had Full KnowIedEe.
II had full knowledge OF everything Of
any Importance that was done in regard
thereto by any agent of the government,
and I was solely responsible for what
was done. The then secretary OF state.
John Hay. who is now dead, had almost
as complete first hand knowledge of
what occurred; but no man now living
except myself, has this first hand knowl.
edge. and no man, living or dead shared
with me the responsiblityVfor the action
/ took, save in a wholly minor degree.
"I request to appear before you, to
make q full statement of exactly what
did and of what was done by my orders.
to state the reasons therefor and to an
swer any questions that your body or
the members of your body choose to put
20 me-"
Opposes Hearing.
Senator Stone indicated that he person.
ally was not in favor of hearings.
The question to be considered by this
committee said Senator Stone, 'is not
so much what happened in Colombia ten
or eleven years ago. The subject for us
TO consider is how to adjust our relations
Colonel Roosevelt has said time and again
what he had 10 say about Colombia. II
he has anything further 70 say. as far
as l am concerned, let him write It out
and send II to the committee. 1 am not
much in favor of turning the foreign rela-
tions committee of the senate into a
town meeting"