The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-09
COLOMBIA TREATY
MAY BRING BITTER
FIGHT IN CONGRESS
Paper Signed at Bogota Almost
Apology - Roosevelt May
Take Hand Against Admin
istrations Acts.

WASHINGTON, April S.-The Will
son administration IL about to throw
another issue into congress which may
rival in bitterness the free tolls con-
troversy. A treaty just concluded with
the republic of Colombia contains
what amounts to an apology to Co.
lombia for the incidents which re-
suited in the establishment OF the re-
public of Panama. and provides for q
payment Of $65,000,000 by this govern
meht. This agreement Is the result
Of ten years Of bad feeling on the part
OF Colombia toward the United states.
Confirmation of reports OF the signing
of treaty for the settlement of this
controversy was received at the CO.
lombian legation here today.
The treaty signed at Bogota yester-
day reduces the matter to its simplest
terms, that Is, money compensation.
and Colombia abandons all her de-
mands for the arbitration for the en-
tire controversy, and recognizes tnat
the independence of Panama Is all ac-
complished fact, no longer to be dis
puted The line Of 1850 is accepted
as the Panama Colombia boundary.
The United States has abandoned its
demand for a seventy-five year option
on the Atrato river inter- oceanic canal
route, and for coaling station privil-
eyes on the islands OF San Andreas
and Providencia. Colombia also
abandons her demand that Colombian
ships oc permitted to pass through the
Panama canal without payment OF
tolls.
The president Of Colombia has al
ready called the congress into extra
ordinary session for the consideration
and ratification of the treaty. mas
much as the president last year APP
pointed a committee, made up OF rep
resentatives OF all parties, to CO.
operate with the government in the
there Is muct, reason to believe that
the treaty will be ratified in Co.
lombia in the near future.
During the discussion of the negoti-
atoms with Colombia, which have
been proceeding for about eight
months, there have been informal ex-
pressions from members Of congress
indicating that the proposed treaty
would not have easy sailing when pre-
scented for ratification. The admins
tration, however. will put forth its
most earnest efforts to obtain the rati-
ficaton OF the treaty. Settlement OF
the controversy with Colombia Is ex-
pected to remove what has been long
q sore spot in the relations of the
United States with the countries OF
Central and South America Colom-
bians have conducted agitations
against the United States in all the
neighboring countries. and in every
way have sought to obtain sympathy
for themselves in their grievances
against the United States and to make
capital against the United States.
1 Colonel RooseSelt's friends declared
tonight that he never would sis idly
/ by and see the treaty just concluded
with the republic of Colombia con-
demning one of his own acts ratified
without making a strong campaign
against the administration. He al
ready is on record as having expressed
himself forcefulIy on this subject. In
one of his messages to congress he
sad
Il hesitate to refer to the Injurious
/ nsinuations hich have been made of
completely by this government in the
revolutionary movement in Panama.
They are AS destitute of foundation
as of propriety."