Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-22
ROOSEVELT ASKS
FOR HEARING To
PROTEST TREATY
Would Appear Before Commit
tee to Oppose Paying $25,-
100000 to Colombia.
special to the Evening Star.

Special to the Evening Star.
WASHINGTON, July 22.-Assuming
further personal responsibility for all
acts in connection with acquisition
of the Panama Canal Zone, former
President Roosevelt today asked that
he be given a hearing before the
Senate foreign relations committee to
oppose the Colombian treaty propos-
ing $25. 100000 reparation.
"I am solely responsible for what
was DONE" said Roosevelt.
Colonel Roosevelt's letter to Chair
man Stone was as follows:
Colonel RooseveIt's Letter.
'Saga.nore Hill, oyster Bay, N. Y.
ITO the Chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, WASH
ington, d. G.
"Sir-If there is any intention in
your committee to act favorably on
the proposed treaty with Colombia,
by which we are to pay Colombia
S25, ZOO, 900 and to express regret for
the action taken in the past, | re-
spectfully request to be heard there
on. | was President throughout the
time of the negotiations with Colom-
bia, and then with Panama, by which
we acquired the right to build the
Panama canal. Every act of this
government in connection with these
negotiations and with other proceed
ings for taking possession of the
canal zone and beginning the build
ing of the canal was taken by my ex-
press direction or else in carrying out
a course of conduct that I as Presi-
dent had laid down. | had full
knowledge of everything of any i'm
portance that was done in regard
thereto by any agent of the govern
ment, and am solely responsible for
what was done. The then secretary
of state, John Hay, who is now dead,
had almost as complete a first-hand
knowledge of what occurred, but no
man now living except myself has this
first-hand knowl edge, and no man
living or dead shared with me the re-
sponsibility for the action took,
save in wholly minor degree. | re
quest to appefir before you to make
full statement of what | did and
what was doD.e by my orders, to state
the reasons therefor and to answer
any questions that your body or the
members of your body choose to put
to me. VeEy respectfully yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
stme Opposes Hearing.
NO dc1On was taken Oh lIle request
for a herring. Senator Stone said he
had replied to Colonel Roosevelt that
approval of the committee must be
secured before his request could be
grant ed. Stone plainly indicated that
he personally opposes hearing Colonel
Roofjevelt
~ see no reason" Senator Stone
said today, "for turning the foreign
re- ations committee into a town hall
Proceeding. If Roosevelt has any
hing new to say on this situation
that ought to be known by the Presi-
dent or the Senate let him communi-
cate these facts TO them in writing.
on this, of course, l am speaking for
myself alone, as there has been no
action by the committee. Person
ally I see no reason for Roosevelt
eleven or twelve years ago is not of
great moment in the present consid-
Grafton of the treaty with Colombia.
the time. Colombia was evidently a
oser and a pretty heavy loser. She
lost Panama. including the Panama
Railroad, which returned her a reve-
nue. of $25, 900 a year. As result of
this loss there has been a hard time
for Colombia to get along.
Regardless of the details of the
Panama revolution. the question is
whether it would not be the good
thing to settle our differences with
Co ombia on this question. Every
thing that Mr.. Roosevelt could say
he has said many times. But If he
has anything really new let him ex-
nress II as | have silPoasfed -