New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-13
Not for Arbitration.

at is not the policy Of nations, how
ever. to settle by arbitration questions
like those arising between the United
States and Colombia, and as arbltra-
ton is not resorted 10 the settlement
must be made by direct negotiations.
Our nation, being much the larger ma
ton and having refused TO arbltrate.
takes upon itself the responsibility OF
doing justice to Colombia. Not only is
il our duty to do justice to Colombia,
but in case of doubt as TO what Is just
we must resolve that doubt against
ourselves and in favor of Colombia.
COLOMBIA feels that she has been
agrieved. and whatever may be said as
70 whether or not this feeling is jus
tilted no one will deny that she has
sustained great financial loss IN the
separation of Panama from her. Be-
for the separation took place this
government offered Colombia $4,000
900 for the canal route and s250,00O
wear for one hundred years. This an
nuity might be capitalized at about ST.
zoo 900, so that this governments es-
innate of the loss suffered by COLON
bia could not be less than about SlI,-
100000. But that estimate was mace
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 lnclden-
tai benefits to be derived from proXl-
n,itv to the canal We cannot deny,
therefore, that the actual loss to Co.
lombia was cons derably more than
S25000,000
But we have a later estimate to
consider. namely, that placed upon the
loss by the preceding administration.
While there is a dispute as to whether
Mr.. Du Bots exceeded his authority IN
the proposition that he made, there Is
no doubt that he was authorized TO
make known to Colombia that the
United States would offer as the basis
of treaty, if assured of acceptance
by Colombia, S10,000,0OO for the Atrata
River canal route and arbitration OF
the reversionary interest OF COLOMBIA
in the railroad. This reversionary in
terest was valued at about Slb,OOO,OOV'
which would have been the sum award
cd 10 Colombia il the arbitration was
decided in her favor. The $lO,OOO,OOO
for the Atrata route and the $lO,-
100000 was evidently intended more
as liGuidated damages than as the
price Of the canal route together with
the value Of the reversionary interest
in the railroad would amount to $780,
O00,0 900.
Sounded by Mr.. Du Bots.
"But Mr.. Du Bots went further than
this. and suggested arbitration of a
canal lease, which might have added
some Sl7,000,000 more, and then, upon
his own responsibility, In order to
sound Colombia as TO her demand,
asked If she would consider S25, 900, 900.
with the arbitration OF the reverSion-
ary interest in the railroad and with
out 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 80 iur-
Their than its formal offer.
reference is made TO what has been
done because former estimates created
expectations which made 1t Impossible
10 secure treaty on more favorable
terms than those embodied in the pres
emit treaty The Canal Zone concessions
contained in the treaty are substan-
TALLY those embodied in the Root-Cor-
tcz treaty, which was not ratified by
Colombia, and the expression Of re-
greet is identical in meaning and al
most identical in words with the OK
preston Of regret 10 be found in the
Du Bots memorandum.
THE ratification of the Colombian
treaty will restore the friendly rela-
tlons which for century preceding
/ 1903 existed between Colombia and the
( United States. 1t will also enable Co
/ lombia and Panama 10 settle their diff
D