The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-14

tiations. Our nation, being much the
larger nation, and having refused to
arbitrate, takes upon itself the re-
sponsibility Of doing justice to Colon
bia. Not only is 1t u duty to do JUS
ttce to Colombia, but in cause of doubt
as to what is just, we must resolve
that doubt against ourselves and in
favor of Colombia.
COLOMBIA feels that she has been
aggrieved and whatever may be said
as to whether or not this feeling is
justified, no one will deny that she
has sustained great financial loss in
the separation of Panama from her.
Before the separation took place, this
government offered Colombia SO, 000,-
600 for the canal route and $250,000 a
year for 100 years. This annuity might
be capitalized at about $500, 900, so
that his governments estimate of the
loss suffered by Colombia could not be
less than about $3.50 900. But that
estimate was made upon the suppose
ton that Colombia would retain the
state or department of Panama. The
retention of Panama would have given
to Colombia not only the value Of
Panama, but the incidental benefits to
be derived from proximity to the can
al We cannot deny, therefore, that
the actual loss to Colombia was con-
IN LILO11 FSctOVNRVVVs
But we have a later estimate to
consider, namely that placed upon the
loss by the preceding administration.
While there is a dispute as to whether
Mr.. Dubois exceeded his authority in
the proposition that he made, there is
no doubt that he was authorized to
make known to Colombia that the
United States would offer as the basis
Of a treaty, If assured of acceptance
by Colombia, SO, 000, 900 for the Atrata
river canal route and arbitration of
the reversionary interest of Colombia
in the railroad. This r~eversionary in
terest was valued at about SIG, 00O, 900,
which would have been the sum
awarded to Colombia if the arbitration
was decided in her favor. The $10,-
100000 for the -Atrata route, and the
$4,000, 900 was evidently intended
more as l~iquidated damages than as
the price, of the canal route, together
with the value of the reversionary in
terest in the railroad would amount to
$26, 600, 900.
But Mr.. Dubois went further thar
this. and suggested arbitration of a
canal lease which might have added
some SIT, 000, 900 more and Their upon
his own responsibility, in order to
sound Colombia as to her demand, ask
ed II she would consider $25, 0OO, 900
with the arbitration Of the reversion-
airy interest in the railroad and with.
out granting any privileges whatever.
This question, while unauthorized,
could not but create in the minds of
the people Of Colombia the idea that
this government was willing to go
further than it's formal offer.
Reference Is made to what has been
done because former estimates created
expectations which made it impossible
to secure a treaty on more favorable
terms than those embodied in the pres
emit treaty. The canal zone concessions
contained in the treaty are substanti-
ally those embodied in the Root Cortez
treaty, which was not ratified by Col
ombia, n the expression Of regret is
Identical in meaning and almost iden-
tical in words with the expression of
regret to be found in the Dubois
memorandum.
IF cordial relations are to be re-
stored with Colombia they must be
restored on a basis that is satisfactory
to Colombia. Friendships cannot rest
upon force; neither can they rest upon