The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-07-16
BRYAN ASKS j. S.
TO PAY COLOMBIA
Says Pay Whether America Is
Right or Not.
SUM SHOULD BE LARGER
Secretary Of State Declares "ThIs Ma.
ton Can Afford to Be Generous;
Friendships Cannot Rest
Upon Force"

State Bryan made public the following
plea for the ratification of the Colon
bian treaty:
AS the terms Of the Colombian
treaty have been published and are
now before the senate for ratification,
the following statement may assist the
public to form an opinion upon the
merits Of the question.
The present administration found
an enlargement existing between the
United States and Colombian es-
arrangement that has continued for
nearly thirteen years. AS the normal
relation between nations Is one OF
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 1t does
not matter which party was at fault.
The estrangement exists and 1t Is the
fact that must be dealt with.
Colombia Insists Upon Arbitration.
Colombia has all along insisted
upon arbitration. If this nation were
willing to arbitrate it would not be nee
essary to discuss terms Of settlement
because in the case Of arbitration, the
parties accept the finding Of the arbi-
traitors and settle their differences &C.
cording to the terms prescribed.
1T is not the policy of nations, how
ever, to settle by arbitration questions
like those arising between the United
States and Colombia. and as arbitra-
ton is not resorted to the settlement
must be made by direct negotiations.
Our nation being much the larger
and having refused to arbitrate, takes
upon itself the responsibility Of doing
justice to Colombia. Not only is 1t our
duty to do justice to Colombia, but in
case Of doubt as to what Is just we
must resolve that doubt against our
selves and. in favor of Colombia.
Colombia feels that she has been
aggrieved and whatever may be said
as to whether this feeling is justified,
no one will deny that she has sus-
tanned great financial loss in the sep
aration Of Panama from her.
Before the separation took place
this government offered Colombia $40,
600 900 for the canal route and $780,
900 year for 100 years This annuity
might be capitalized at about $780,
OOO so that this governments estimate
of the loss suffered by Colombia could
not be less than about $l75OOO0O.
Fixes ColombIa's Loss at $25,ooo,oOo.
But that estimate was made upon
the supposition 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 canal. We cannot deny, them
that the actual loss to Colombia was
considerably more than $25,OO0,O 600.
But we have 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
United States would offer, as the basis
of a treaty, II assured Of acceptance
by Colombia, $40, 900, 900 for the Atrata
river canal route and arbitration OF
the reversionary interest OF Colombia
In the railroad.
This reversionary interest was
valued at about sixteen million dol
lars, which would have been the sum
awarded to Colombia II the arbitration
was decided in her favor. The $780,
OOO, 900 for the Atrata route-and the
$1O,OOO,000 was evidently intended
more as liquidated damages than as
the price of the canal route-together
with the value of the reveTsiOnary in
terest in the railroad, would amount
to $26, 900, 900.
But Mr.. Dubois went further than
this and suggested arbitration Of
canal lease which might have added
1000, 900 more, and then upon his
own responsibility, in order to sound
Colombia as to her demand, asked IL
she would consider $25,000,000 with
the arbitration of the reversionary in
terest in the railroad and without
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 its formal offer.
Says Expectations Were Created.
Reference is made to what has
been done because former estimates
created expectations which made it
impossible to secure a treaty on more
favourable terms than those embodied
In the present treaty. The canal and
canal zone concessions contained in
the treaty are substantially those en-
bodied In the Root-Cortez treaty. which
was no ratified by Colombia, and the
expression of regret is identical in
meaning and almost identical In words
with the expression of regret to be
found In the Dubois memorandum.
IF the cordial relations are to be
restored with Colombia they must be
restored on basis that Il satistac-