New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-26
THAT $25,OOO,OOO
MERE BACATELLE"
So Silvio Cardenas Thinks
of Proposed Payment to
Colombia by U. S.
OBJECTS TO T. RS USE
OF "BLACKMAILERS"
Laughs at Idea That Nicaragua
Canal Will Ever Be Built
by Germany.

"Of course former President Roose-
Welt takes the stand he does on the pro-
posed treaty with Colombia. He has TO
do Il. He handled the original treaty,
and. of course, he wants TO stick 10 that
one" said Silvio Cardenas at the Hotel
McAlpin last night. Mr.. Cardenas Is
the brother-in-law of Jose vicente
Concha. President-elect OF Co lomDia.
While he is in this country purely on
business trip. il is obvious that ms
views represent those of his brother
in-law.
"Mr Roosevelt's recent trip in South
America did a great deal more damage
than il did good" he continued.
Everybody in South America believes
his policy is entirely imperialistic-that
he wants to absorb South America for
the United States. On the other hand,
absolute confidence is felt in the pres
ent administration. South America and
Central America now feel entirely Sc
cure.
ain the first place, from a business
aspect alone, it seems very silly to make
any objection to the payment of S25,-
100000 to the Colombian government.
This is a mere bagatelle contrasted
get back in contracts with Central and
South American countries. And yet, on
the other hand. il the payment should
be denied confidence in the government
at Washington would be badly shaken
in the Latin countries.
1.-THE word 'blackmail is a very harsh
one for Mr.. Roosevelt to use in connec-
ton with the treaty. Colombians are
not 'blackmailers.' II they had been
they would have put France in q very
peculiar position. As you know, the
original concession was made to De
/ Lesseps, and there was a forfeit at
tached il the canal was not finished
within a certain number of years. Al
the expiration Of that time the canal
was not finished, not by any means, but
Colombia did not do anything in the
way of 'blackmail.' On the contrary,
the Colombian government granted an
extension of two years, for which
France paid about 81 100000.
"Mr. Roosevelt says that MarroqGin,
the VicePresident, rejected the treaty
continued Mr.. Cardenas. This is I'M
true. The treaty was rejected by the
opposition. He also seems to take the
stand that no alteration can be made in
inc treaty.
"lf the treaty was offered to the
United States Congress would have a
right to criticise or reject certain sec
tions of it. | understand that the
clause in the proposed treaty b. which
in time of war Colombia would have
the right to use the canal has been
much criticised in this country. Colon
bia takes the attitude that inasmuch as
she owned the canal she certainly
should be entitled TO this privilege.
Mr.. Cardenas belittled the idea that a
Nicaraguan canal would ever be built.
In fact, he laughed at the suggestion
that Germans are fostering any such
scheme.
ain the first place. he said, "the
physical condition of the country prac-
tically prevents any canal-that is, a
canal which would be adapted to prac-
tical uses-ever being constructed.
The surgeons of the Imperator were
alarmed over the eX.President's con-
dition, as he was unconscious for an
hour and delirious for five hours.