Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-01-20
u. S. OWES DEBT To
|. COLOMBIA R|EPUBL|
Perplsxing Problem C,nfron|
Country Growing Out
Of Canal Zone


anna and the Canal in Picture Al
Prose. e."-Copyright, 1918, syndic3
Publishing Co., New York.
rights reserved.
out of the mysterious recess of (
Department of State in Washingt|
there comes an occasional word abd
q debt owing by the United States
the Republic Of Colombia. The dipI
mats are never prone to be exec
lngly explicit in what they tell abd
their business, and the dispatches s
out from Washington are apt to
written as II the country as q VIII
knew exactly what was the mat
with Colombia, and why it owed he
sum, commonly put at $10,000,0S
and just why an offer Is not made
pay 1t; and the Colombians refuse
consider taking 1t.
Ten years Is a long period in
public memory, and 1t is probably
to believe. that many have forgot
the things that happened on the Is
mus Of Panama in 1908, and VIII
Colombia has not forgiven
French had partially dug canal do
| there, and a railroad across the Is
mus. They wanted to sell both to
United States for $4,000, 900, but
franchise for their canal was
salable. All they could offer was
disused machinery, the abandoned d
gings and the railroad. To md
these of any particular value q tire
with Colombia was necessary.
was negotiated, offering $4,000,
for the franchise, and a rental
$250,000 annually for tho Canal I'd
But the treaty failed of ratification
the Colombia Senate.
In Washington was President Th
dore Roosevelt, keenly desirous
work on the canal should be bel
under his administration. In Wa
ington, too, were Representatives of
French owners, very desirous of m
ing that $40,000,000. In Panama
and Colon, were divers gentler
eager to see canal building begun q
more, bringing flush times to
Isthmus. Panama was a province
Colombia. What was easier thai
revolution. It's people had revo
time and again, but the revolts "
always put down by Colombia, WI
sent. troops by sea into the REBEL
province. There was no possible c.
| munication by land. If only the
route could be closed!
There were Panama secret agent
Washington. There, too, were ski
diplomats In the pay of the Ere
company. President Roosevelt was
| eager to dig that canal. Rumora
revolution were heard in Panama.
Colombian envoy at Washington
graphed warnings to Bogota.
Colombian authorities, doubling
loyalty Of the garrison at Panama
telegraphed the commanders of
! gunboats in Panama Bay to Cd
home and get fresh troops. The
boats were out of coal. There
plenty of coal at Colon, at the Alta
end Of the Panama Railroad, but
road-not so very busy-could not
cars to carry it over for the gunbd
use. You see the French owner.
the road wanted to sell to the Un
States. So the preparations for
revolution continued. Alarmed Col
bia sent 400 men down by the Alta
route and landed them at Colon. p
ident Roosevelt had telegraphed
captain of the Nashville to pre-
the landing of any armed force. eli
government or insurgent." At the
the order was issued there was nd
surrection, but Washington was
a trifle premature. But what
the President had to prohibit Col
bia from landing her own troops
her own coast Is question. Still
were landed, as the orders were
ceived too late.
The revolutionary headquarters
at Panama, forty-seven mile al
The railroad refused to carry
troops except for cash despite
invariable responsible officers.
Colombian custom of accepting
warrants of officers probably thr
ened force. The United States \
Immediately backed up the railr
and the Colombians gave up. The +
luton was successful without
having been fired. The United ST
effectually closed both the sea and
Isthmus to the Colombian authori
Within ten days the Republic of
anna had negotiated with the Ur
States the treaty by virtue of w
the canal has been dug. The revol
province got $10,000,0 900 cash and
get $250,000 year in perpetuity.
lombia got nothing.
But there has been an uneasy
ing in the United States ever s
Somehow, it stands in the light OF
ceivers of stolen goods. More
that, 1t aided in the steal. So
have been efforts by the State Del
ment to find out what Colombia
accept as an indemnity. We are
tually admitting our guilt, but
little bothered about the size of
conscience fund. Ten millions are
gested. but Colombia holds aloof.
lost that, her richest province, the
road, the franchise Of which
about to revert to the State, an
rental in perpetuity of $780, 900 a
She doesn't think 10000, 900 a
cient indemnity. Who would?
Be sure to get a copy of Pan
and the Canal in Picture and Pr
Clip coupon from the Telegraph
present at office with 81.