The Washington herald., 1914-04-13
COLOMBIA MAY
Reject TREATY
Opposition in Senate Of Little
Republic Now Thought
Likely.
EXTRA SESSION MAY l
Certain Element. 1t Is Feared. Will
Claim United States Should Pay
More Than $25,000.O00.

While it is admitted the outlook for
ratification of the new treaty with Co.
lombia. in settlement OF the Panama con-
troversy with that country, is most du-
bious, it generally has been assumed that
the convention will be approved by the
Colombian Senate.
Adyiees received here, however, indi-
cate that assumptions that ratification of
the treaty in Colombia is certainty are
not entirely well-founded. On the cUn-
trary, there is reason to believe that a
CONTROVERSY will be stirred up in Colom-
bia by the publication of the treaty quite
as vigorous as that already started in the
United States.
A notable feature of the entire history
OF CoIornbia's dealing with the canal
question, since the first treaty made with
the United States with a view to acqui-
sitIon of canal rights on the isthmus,
has been the inability of the government
To control the Congress. Radical and IN
tensely nationalist members succeeded in
bringing about the rejection of the first
treaty, an act which precipitated the
secession of Panama.
Former Treaty Rejected.
Later the government of Colombia
made with the United States treaty
for settling Colombia's claims. This
treaty, quite satisfactory to the Colom-
5ian government, likewise was rejected
by the Congress There is now no guar
antee that the new treaty will not meet
with the same fate.
The government went as far as II
could to insure the support OF Congress
to the new treaty by appointing
committee, consisting of representa-
tiyes of all political parties, to advise
with the government in the negotia-
tions with the United States, now con-
cluded. 1t was hoped by this step to
make certain of securing ratification
of the convention when il is submitted
to the Senate. .. e.
In pursuance of the governments
hope of ratification, :and that prompt
ly, the Colombian senate has been
called into extra session on May /
next Recent advices. however, indi
cate that during the session which
ended this winter the government was
at odds with the congress.
The difficulty lies, il is asserted, in
the fact that there are so many Co.
lombians in public life who do not
appreciate the fact that the world re-
CARDS their nation as having stood
stin while TIiefr neighbors- have pro-
gressed. The Colombian rights in the
Isthmus of Panama have for centuries
been regarded as a bonanza, the great
national stake upon which they were
to realize So handsomely as to make
them the richest nation in South
America.
The secession OF Panama altered the
situstiph materially. hut many Colom-
bians nRtsFs1ed that COlombia's claim of
dannhsesA upon the United States was
quite aS good an asset as its original
rightt. This attitude is regarded as re-
sponsibIe, first. for the attempt to hold
up the United States when il first de-
sired. TO acquire canal rights from Co
lombia tc accept the offers of the United
States in settlement Of their claims. 1t
is feared this element. which still per-
sists. though to a lesser extent. will de-
nounce the new treaty as letting off the
United States altogether too easily.
Say S25, ,OGO. 900 Is Limit.
The supporters of the treaty are ex-
pected to urge ratification on the ground
that the sum NAMED in the new conven-
ton, 81, OJO, is the limit of what is to
be- obtained from the United States.
They will point out that the convention
was negotiated by a Democratic admin