The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-08

ner. But for the military protection
which Panama secures from the Unit
ed States on account of the canal,
Colombia and Panama would at this
moment be at war. For, In the eyes
of Colombia, the republic Of Panama
is still nothing but a %revolted province
taken under the wing Of a great pow
er.
There is no escape from the fact that
this situation will be long continued,
unless Colombia Is conciliated by the
elimination Of her grievance. The per-
%petuation of the ill-feeling which CO.
lombia now nurses against the United
States would be detrimental in two
very material ways. In case of war
between the United States and any Eu-
ropean or Asiatic naval power of the
first rank, there would inevitably be a
naval struggle for the control of the
inter-Oceanic waterway. The canal
must always be a strategic point of
the utmost Importance. Would it be
advantageous to the United States in
such a war to ave Colombia sympa-
thetic with and probably eager to aid
the enemies Of the country In their
operations on sea and land for the
| capture Of the canal zone? The other
reason why the perpetuation of Colon
bias grievance against the United
States would be detrimental is that
every Colombian will be a propaganda
of hatred against us in Latin America,
while the present situation endurcs.
No administration at Washington
could view this state of affairs with
indifference no administration has
viewed it with Indifference. Secretary
Hay, in President Roosevelt's time,
made efforts to conciliate Colombia.
Secretary Root in turn sought to nego-
tiate for a settlement. Secretary
Knox, even in the last winter of the
Taft administration, made advances to
the Bogota government. AS late as
February, 1913, President Taft's rep
r~esentative at Bogoto submitted to the
Colombian government a memoran-
dunn outlining a basis Of settlement
between the two countries, and it be-
gan with these words:
THE government M the people Of
the United States sincerely regret the
occurrence Of events that, in any man
ner, may have changed the long and
sincere friendship which existed for
almost a century between Colombia
and the United States"
In all Of those efforts to effect a set
Element, the United States government
refused to submit COlombia's claims
for compensation for the loss of the
isthmus to International arbitration,
say, to The Hague court. There were
two reasons first, u government did
not wish to admit that it's political &C
ton in helIing Panama to establish
her independence was renewable by
any outside tribunal; second, our gov
eminent would not risk Judgment in
tehe matter of money damages by in
ternational arbiters. All the secretar-
les of state from Hay to Bryan have
been shreWd in refusing to arbitrate
Colombia's money claim, for it is cas-
lily conceivable that If the Panama
isthmus were to be given a money
value by an International tribunal it
might condemn the United States to
pay Colombia an indemnity the size
Of which would make $25, 900, 200 look
like 80 cents.
In considering the treaty with Co
lombia now pending in the senate, 1t Is
worth while to remember that it Is In
strict accord with the policy Of our
government under three successive
administrations in two vital partcu-
lars-frst, that Coolnba shall be con
ciliated, if possible, and induced to
recognize the independence Of Pan
anna; second, that the settlement with
Colombia shall be direct rather than
through the agency Of an international
tribunal Of arbitration. In brief. this
treaty is fairly and consistently expos
ed to attack, not in principle, but
merely in detail.
The treaty fully accomplishes the
broad purposes in view, 1t would heal
at once Colombia's open sore and per-
nit the Panama canal to be opened
to the traffic Of the world with the
blessings of all nations. Does 1t In
detail, however, grant too much to Co.
lombia? Does it humiliate the United
States, or in any way tarnish u ma
tional honor? There have been two
points of criticism thus far developed
lit may be added with considerable
bitterness. The money payment of
$25, 900, 900 to Colombia is condemned;
and it is charged that the sincere re-