The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-07-17
STATEMENT REGARDING PRO,
POSED COLOMBIAN TREATY
(By Associated Press.l

ed States and Colombia over the sep
aration of Panama. The treaty has
met vigorous opposition in the sen
ate. and former President Roosevelt
has attacked itapas a vehicle for the
payment of "blackmail."
Mr.. Bryan declared that it was ne
cessary to discuss only the fact that
an estrangement existed, and not the
events which gave rise to the differ
ences; and that regardless of wheth-
er Colombia has a just grievance
against her much more powerful
neighbor, no one would deny that the
former country sustained great finan-
cial loss, considerably mor than the
$25,000,0 900 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
rotary said that this was almost iden-
teal with a similar expression in the
Dubois memorandum, on the basis of
which the Taft administration unsuc-
cessfully sought to placate Colombia.
The statement in part 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:
'The present administration found
an estrangement existing between the
United States and Columbian es-
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
relations resumed. 1t is not neces-
sary 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 that must be dealt
with.
Colombia has all along insisted on
arbitration. If this nation were will
ing to arbitrate, it would not be ne
cessary 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 pre-
scribed.
Colombia feels that she has been
aggrieved, and whatever may be said
as to- whether or not this feeling is
justified, no n 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 $40, 000,-
900 for the canal route, and $25O,OO a
year for one hundred years. This
annuity might be capitalized at about
$500, 900, so that this governments
estimate of the loss suffered by Co
lombia could not be less than about
$17,50O, 900. But that estimate was
made upon the s%upposition that Co
lombia would retain the state or de-
partment of Panama. The retention
of Panama would have given to Co
lombia not only the value of Panama.
but the incidental benefits to be de-
rived from proximity to the canal. We
cannot deny, therefore, that the act
ual loss to Colombia was considerably
more than $25, 900, 900"
After going more deeply into the
details in defense of the proposed
Colombia ntreaty, Mr.. Bryan said:
IF cordial relations are to be re-
stored with Colombia, they must be
restored on a basis that is satisfac-
tory to Colombia. Friendships can
not rest upon force, neither can they
rest upon acquiescence in the power
OF might. Even if Colombia, under
protest and against the judgment of
ner people, accepted a less sum than
that which we offer, it would not re-
store the relations that ought 20 ex-
list. We must satisfy their sense of
justice, although a less sum might
satisfy our sense of justice. In every
settlement there must be concessions,
and our government has not conceded
more than the requirements of the
situation demand.
"The ratification of the Colombian
treaty will restore the friendly rela-
lions which for a century preceding
1908 existed between Colombia and
the United States. 1t will also en-
able Colombia and Panama to settle
their differences and deal with each
other upon a neighborly basis. More