Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-13

Washington July F ~ Secretary Bryan issued d statement tonight de- fenoing the proposed treaty to settle differences between the United States and Colombia over the separation of Panama The treaty has met vigorous opposition in the senate, and former President Roosevelt has attacked it as a vehicle for the payment of black mail"
 Mir Bryan declared that 1t was ness- sary to discuss only the fact that an estrangement exists, and not the events which gave rise to the differences, and that regardless of whether Colombia has a just grievance against her more powerful neighbor. no one would deny that the former country sustained great financial loss, considerably more than the s25,00O,000 which the United States would pay under the treaty, through the separation of Panama As to the expression of regret on the part of the American government, to which opponents of the pending convention offer their bitterest objection. the sec retary said this was almost identical with a similar expression in the Du Bois memorandum on the basis of which the Taft administration unsuc- cessfully sought to piacate Colombia
 Secretary Bryan's Statement.
 The statement Tn full follows:
 ''As the terms of the Colombian treaty have been published, and it is now before the. senate for ratification. the following statement may assist the public to form an opinion upon the merits of the question:
 Arrangement Existed.
 The present administration found an estrangement existing between the United States and Colombia--an cs-. arrangement that has. continued for nearly thirteen years. As the normal relation between nations is one for. friendship, it is desirable that differ enceS shall be adjusted and cordial re- lations resumed. 1t is not necessary to discuss the events which gave rise to this estrangement, because it does not matter which party was at fault. The .estrangement exists. and this is the fact II at must be dealt with.
 Colombia Wanted to Arbitrate.
 Colombia has all along insisted up- on arbitration If this nation were willing to aFbitrate; it would not be necessary to discuss terms of settle ment because in the case of arbitra- ton the parties accept the finding of the arbitrators and settle their differ ences according to the terms prescrib- ed. It is not the policy of nations, however, to settle by arbitration Ques- ftions like those arising between the United States and Colombia, and as arbitration is not resortcd to. the set clement must be made by direct nego- tiatioris. Our nation, being much the larger nation, and having refused to aroitrate, takes upon itself the respon- sibility of doing justice to Colombo. a. Not only is it our duty to do justice to Colombia, but in case of doubt as to what is just, we must resolve that doubt against ourselves and in- favor of Colombia.
 Colombia Asgrieved.
 Colombia feels that she has been aggrieyed, 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. Be- fore the separation took place. this government offered Colombia $16,0O0.- e9e for Sae canal route and s250, ,0OO a year for one hundred years This an nuity might be capitalized at about $I 800, yee. So that this governments s estimate of the loss suffered by Colo~r1- bia could not me less than aboAte$i7 7- 509-0e0. But that estimate was made upon the suppoeition that Colombia would retain the state or department of Panama. The retention of Panama would have given to- Colombfa not only the value.of Panama but the in- cidental benefits to be derived fir m proximity to the canal. We cannot deny. therefore. that the actual loss to Colombia was considerably more than $e5. 5.0o0,0 ,00o.
 Offer of Preceding Administration.
 But We have a later estimate to
  loss by the preceding administration While there is dispute as to whether MT. Du Bo;s 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 q treaty if assured of acceptanct by Colombia. s10.000.000 for the Atrats river canal route and arbitration of the reversioEary interest of Colombia ir the railroad. This reversionary inter est was valued at about $16,00O, ,50t ed to Colombia If the arbitration was decided in her favor. The S10.0O0, ,00t for the Atrata route and the $f0 G01.- 900 was evidently intended more as hquidated damages than as the price of the canal route-together with ths the railroad. would amount to $26,0o0,- co.
 Canal Lease Suggested
 sBut Mir Du Bois went further thar this, and suggested arbitration of 6 canal lease, which might have added some $17,000.0O0 more, and then upor his own responsibility, in order te sound Colombia as to her demand asked # she would consider $25. .60e. .e9t with the arbitration of the reversion. ary interest fn the railroad and with oIli granting any privi1eges whatever This question. while unauthorized could not but create in the minds o1 the peaaie Of Colombia the idea that this R0vernn1enf was willing to gt further than its formal offer
 aReferencei is made to what has beer done berauee former estimates created expectations which made il impossi- hfe to secure d treaty on more favor able terms than those embodied in ths npessnt freaxy, zhs canal zone con.