New Britain herald., 1914-07-13
COLOMBIAN TREATY
 DEFENDED BY BRYAN
Secretary Says Republic Suffered Great Damage by Taking of Panama.

Washington, July 1s.-Secretsry Bryan issued statement sunday night defending the proposed treaty to settle differences between the Unit ed States and Colombia over the sep aration of Panama. The treaty has met vigorous opposition in the sem ate, and former President Roosevelt has attacked it as a vehicle for the payment Of "blackmaii"
 Secretary Bryan declared that 1t was necessary to discuss only the fact that an arrangement exists, and not the events which gave rise to the diff ferences; and that regardless of whether Colombia has a just grievt ance against her more powerful neighbor, no one would deny that the former country sustained great finan- cial loss, considerably more than the $25,000,000 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 secretary said this was almost identical with a similar expression in the Du Bois memorandum on the basis of which the Taft administra- tion successfully sought to placate Colombia.
 Found Encouragement.
 He says: The present administra- tion found an arrangement existing between the United States and Co., lombia-an arrangement that has continued for nearly thirteen years As the normal relation between na- tions is one for friendship, it is de- sirable that differences shall be ad- justed and cordial relations resumed. 1t is not necessary to discuss the events which gave rise to this es- arrangement, because it does not mat ter which party was at fault. The arrangement exists, and this is the fact that must be dealt with.
 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 s10,- 000,000 for the canal route and $25O,0 a year for one hundred
 
 italized at about $7.50o,0o0, so that this governments estimate of the loss suffered by Colombia could not Dc less than $17,500.000. But that esti- mate was made upon the snpposition that Colombia would retain the state or department of Panama. The re- tention of Panama would have given to Colombia not only the value Aof Panama but the incidental benefits to be derived from proximity to the canal. We cannot deny. therefore. that the actual loss to Colombia wss considerably more than s25,0oo,oo0.
 PIacating Colombia.
 "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 acquiescence in the power of might. Even if Colombia. under pro- test and against the judgment of her people, accepted a less sum than that which we offer, it would not restore .N the relations that ought to exist. We must satisfy their sense of justice, al- though 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 situa- ton demand.
 This nation can afford to be just; even more, it can afford to be gener- ous in the settling of disputes, espe- cially when by it's generosity ft can increase fhe frieudliness of the many