The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-09
u. S. ACQUIRES
CANAL ZONE BY
SIGNED TREATY
Twenty-Five Million Dol
| lars is the Amount This
Country Agrees to Pay
Colombia for Partition of
Panama and Acquisition
Canal Route.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Washington, April S.-Twenty-fi
million dollars is the amount the
United States agrees to pay to Colon
bia for the partition of Panama and
the acquisition of the canal IONS in the
Minister Thompson and the Colombia
authorities. This was stated here today
1T the Colombian legation.
No rights for a new inter oceanic
canal across Colombia by the Atrato
river route and no coaling privileges
on San Andreas and Providence islands
of the Colombian coast, 1t was added,
were contained in the treaty.
While the Colombian minister, Senior
Betancourt, received a cable from his
foreign ONCE informing him of the
signing of the agreement, the state de-
partment was still awaiting word from
Mr.. Thompson.
The boundary between Colombia and
Panama is to follow the line laid down
in an earlier treaty which was signed
but never approved by the Colombian
congress. One important demand
which the South American republic has
insisted on, the free passage of her
merchant vessels through the canal,
was given up because of President Will
sons attitude in favor of repeal of the
tolls exemption. That had been a
stumbling block in the way of final
agreement.
In6 COLOMBIAN COnETGSS VIII DC
called in special session to pass on
the treaty before it is submitted to
the senate here
Acceptance of the latest treaty will
end ten years of negotiations and fric-
ton between the United States and CO.
1ombia and relieve strained diplomatic
relations which have been watched
with the keenest interest by all Cen
trail and South American republics.
Colombia has insisted all along that
IL
sum for the canal zone il acquired
when the little republic of Panama
was set up over might with guarantees
of integrity from Washington or that
the whole question be submitted to
The Hague for arbitra ton.
The last negotiations were just at the
close of President Taft's administra-
ton when Minister Dubois. under in
structions of Secretary Knox offered a
settlement on this basis:
Ratification by Colombia, of the So
called trI-partite treaty of 1909. also
known as the Knox Arosemeua treaty,
by which Panama agreed to apportion
with Colombia the annual payment Of
S25e.00o which she receives from the
United States as rent for the canal
zone for a sufficient period to IiHuidate
any claim of Colombia's up 10 $10,-
100000.
Payment of $4,000 cash to Colom-
bia by the United States for an option
coalinS sites at St. Andreas and Old
Pro%fGencia,
An offer of friendly influence of the
United States with Panama for an add
justment between Panama and Colom-
bia over the partition.
AN offer to arbitrate reversionary
rights in Panama"
The Colombia foreign office rejected
the plan because it omitted to recog-
nize the claim of sovereignty over PAN
anna.
The Atrato canal option would have
continued for seventy-five years during
which Colombia would have enjoyed
the sum of 100000 with interest;
100000 on the Panama railroad canals
had arbitration been in her favor:
other claims were estimated at some
SS3,000, 900. In ALL had Colombia won
All her contentious. her recovery would
have totalled more than 10000, 900.
Just before going out of Office. Presi-
dent Taft transmitted a letter to- con-
gress containing Secretary KnoX's re-
port OF the negotiations. saying that
Colombia, by refusal. had CLOSED the
door to any further overtureS by the
United States" Secretary Hay had
previously declined to submit Colon
ground they were political and not
might call in the question of the right
OF Panama TO exist as sovereign
state
soon after President Wilson took of
nee the negotiations were renewed and
have been proceeding steadily to the
conclusion reached yesterday at Be-
gotta.