New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-19
Senate Gets Correspond
ence Between Root and
Ambassadors.
REASONS GIVEN FOR
MAKING CONCESSIONS
Not Improbable That Pact VIII be
Amended Beyond Recognition
if Instrument Is Submitted.
IRON The Tribune Bureau. J

cleared for the impending fight over the
treaty with Colombia by the SUBMISSION
IN the Senate Interoceanic Canals COM
rnlttee to-day Of the correspondence De-
tween Secretary Root and Ambassadors
Reid and Bryce relating to the hesous-
tons carried on in 1903
II the administration lays the ne"
treaty with Colombia signed IN Bosota
q short time ago before the senate
fight is certain 10 follow. and 1t Is not
,,,nrobable that the instrument viii be
changed almost beyond recognition OF
NAT q will be rejected altogether. On
This issue many of the Senators VINO are
supporting the President on the toNs
question will part company with MIN
Senators Root and Lodge WILL II IS sa!u'
oppose the latest Colombian treaty. ana
practically all Of the Republicans ana
probably number Of Democrats VIII
side with the opposition. The expression
OF regret and the payment OF the sum OF
S2500O.OOO which are provided by the lat
est treaty with Colombia are regarded
by many Senators as an admission OF Cd
ligation on the part of the United states
which has no basis Of fact.
The correspondence laid before the com
n,ittee to-day referring 10 the Hay-Her-
ran treaty of 1905. presents in detail the
reasons for which Secretary Root negou-
ated with Colombia IN 1903, according TO
the latter country. the free passage OF
its ships and munitions of war through
the canal and across the isthmus.
Secretary Roots Letters.
These reasons were set forth in com
nunication OF Secretary Root TO Am
bassador Bryce in 1909 after Ambassador
Reid had reported that Great Britain
would protest against the exemption
They follow:
Notwithstanding the grant by Panama
In her treaty with the United states, there
remained three subjects for serious con-
sideration by the United States as AFFECT
ing the peaceable and unquestioned title
to the property and rights the acquisition
OF which was necessary TO the execution
Of the canal project. One Of these was
that there still remained in force treaty
made IN 1876 between the United States
and Colombia, which was in existence at
the time the Hay Pauncefote treaty was
made. and under which the United States
remained under special obligations to Co.
lombia in respect Of the very status OF the
canal.
The second was that the only way 10
dispose Of the prior and exclusive right
Of the French Panama Canal Company.
which stood in the way Of the construc-
ton Of the canal by the United States,
pursuant to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty,
was by purchasing those rights and be-
coming the successor OF the Panama Canal
Company under the concessionary con-
tracts. In those contracts there were
stpulations and reservations running 10
Columbia, including rights Of forfeiture
OF property and including an expressed
stipulation for the right TO pass their war
vessels through the canal without the
payment Of dues.
Tine third was the fact that Colombia
had continuously refused TO recognize the f
independence OF Panama and stood ready
10 retake possession Of the isthmus and
resume her control over it the moment +
she was not prevented by the superior
military and naval force Of the United .
states. so that the only possession which F.
vas possible under the grant OF Panama +
alone was the possession 70 be contin-
uously maintained by force.
Under these circumstances the United
States has deemed IL to be its duty, in the
performance OF the obligations which it
assumed in the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
with Great Britain, 10 fortify its title
and assure its peaceable possession Of the
Canal for the purposes OF the Hay
Pauncefote treaty BY securing the assent
Of Colombia 70 the separation of Panama,
the reconciliation OF COlombia's claims and
the consent Of Colombia 10 the necessary
notifications OF the treaty engagements
OF 1876 between the United States and
Colombia. in order 10 accomplish this
the United States has found ii necessary
70 renew the reservations OF the specihc
right Of Colombia 20 send its warships
through the Canal without the payment
Of dues, which has been insisted upon
by that country in every concession and
treaty she has made regarding 1T dor eX-
ample the Panama Canal concession OF
1873, Article s: The Hay-Concha accepted
the proposal for treaty between the
United States and Colombia OF April is,
1902, sent By Mr. Hay 20 the American
Congress and printed as a public docu-
nent. and the Hay-Herren treaty OF
January p. 1913. Articles l5, II and 49,,
and also 70 make the very substantial
payrnent OF $4,000 which the United
states proposes to contribute toward the
payment Of Panama for the purpose OF
occurring these rights
ENGLAND Agrees to Exemption.
In response 10 these suggestions Great
Britain acknowledged the fact that Co
ionnbia's was a special case and agreed 10
the exemption Of tolls, With the under
standing that Il was not TO be taken as a
precedent
without entering on any discussion OF
The argument" Ambassador Bryce wrote
10 Secretary OF State Bacon, under date
o, February q, 1880. "by which the view
az your government II supported ana
illustrated. his majesty's government are
Lifts ZGZTSXMZIXZ1 Face