The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-02

When IN a preliminary and informal
conversation with President Restrepo l
suggested the Atrato concession and the
perpetual lease of the islands, he said very
firmly in effect: president Roosevelt
took Panama, our richest asset, and now
you are sent here to take our islands and
the only canal route we have left. Is there
anything else that the Northern colossus
would like TO separate us from"
Col. Roosevelt also feels that the Will
son Administration has intended To dis
credit his taking Of Panama. This
grave difference with Colombia must be
settled some time
Owing to the tender regard for ex-
President Roosevelt contained in my in
structions | failed The Wilson Admins
ration has taken a broader and more
correct view of the entire question and
has presented to the American people
treaty that ought to be heartily approved.
because 1t is just TO Colombia, and will
remove forever an intOlerable situation.
Let us see what the treaty really means
Article !. contains "a simple express
sion OF regret that anything has dis
turbed the friendship that existed eb-
tween the two nations for a century
While negotiating for treaty | made
the Colombian authorities understand
that under no circumstances would the
United States apologize 10 any nation for
a political act-that was our unwritten
law that never had been and never would
be broken. In purely Informal converse 70
tons and in my unofficial memorandum
I suggested that chlyalrous expression
OF regret that our friendship had In any
way been mnrred, such as any real gen.
tlemen would freely grant 10 another
might later he embodied In the treaty as
. balm for the wounded feelings Of a
once friendly nation which had been
Inundated whose credit had been de-
stroyed I'm foreign countries whose Dor
rowing ability had been anuihilated, and
whose persistent appeals for arbitration
had been ignored. The United states Ia
negotiating the treaty ana Colombia IN
ratlfying II distinctly understood that NJ
apology was embodied In Article l., and
nowhere else In the agreement.
The opposition to this feature, on ths
ground that II Is an apology is not JUS
and Is not ia the true interests of th'
United states. II is an unreasonable
Interpretation of a chivalrous act towart
a weaker nation which Ii In deep distress
because of an incident in which we wer,
Intimately associated, Chivalrous ac
which Ia in strict accord with the prn
ciples OF the highest internationa
morality. n the Anglo-Saxons are TO Nv
In harmony with the Latins on this con
tinent they must treat them with absolute
justice, Just as We shall exact Justice from
them.
Article second is essentially the sam
as the one President Roosevelt approve'
In the Root-cor treaty of 1909, AM
the Fourth Article Is also similar to Al
article OF the same treaty Thus thes
tue articles are perhaps beyond tn
criticism OF Col, Roosevelt, as he approve
both five years ago,
As the Third Article is the most i'm
portant feature OF the treaty ! conslde
Il last This article has been placed 4
the "hlarkmaiers' club" by Col. Roose
Welt with some hlrshucss lie says tina
we might a. well give Colombia fort
millions ~ twenty tive millions. becaus
she IL not entitled To IA cent. l. he right
Under the contract Of 1867 Colombi