Evening star., 1914-04-08
Treaty Signed at Bogota In
IDENTITIES Country for
Loss of Panama.
S25,OOO.0OO AMOUNT
CARRIED IN DOCUMENT
Action Ends Ten Years of Nego-
tiations and Friction Between
the Two Nations.


to Colombia for the partition Of Panama
end the acquisition OF the Canal Zone IN
the treaty signed in BoEota yesterday b%
American Minister Thompson and the
Colombian authorities. This was stated
here TODAY at the Colombian legation.
No rights for a new interoceanIc canal
across Colombia by the Atrato river
route and no coalins privileges on san
Andreas and Providencia Islands, on ire
Colombian coast il was added, were con
tanned in the treaty.
While the Colombia minister Senior
Betancourt. received a cable from ms
foreign Office informing him of the sign
ing of the agreement. the State Depart
ment was still awaiting word from Mr.
Thompson.
The boundary between Colombia and
Panama is to follow the line laid down
in earlier treaty, which was signed
but never approved by the COLOMBIAN
congress. One important demand Nhlch
he South American republic had been
insisting on, the free passage OF hef
merchant vessels through the canal, was
given up because Of President Wilson's
attitude in favor of repeal of the tolls
exemption. That had been a stumbling
block in the way of final agreement
The Colombian congress will be called
in special session to pass on the treaty
Ends Ten Years of Friction.
Acceptance of the latest treaty will end
ten years of negotiation and friction be
tween the United States and Colombia,
and relieve strained diplomatic relations
which have been watched with the keen
est interest by all Central and South
American republics.
Colombia has insisted all along that the
United States either pay lump sum for
the Canal Zone it acquired when the lit
tie republic of Panama was set up over
night, with guarantees of integrity from
Washington: or that the whole question
be submitted to The Hague for arbitra-
ton
The last negotiations were just at the
close of President Taft'S administration
when Minister Du Bois, under instruc-
tions of Secretary Knox, offered a settle
ment on this basis:
Ratification by Colombia of the social
ed tripartite treaty of 1909, also known
as the acknowledgements treaty. by which
Panama agreed to apportion with Coiom-
bia the annual payment of S2Jo,0D which
she receives from the United States as
rent for the Canal Zone for sufficient
period to liqudate any claim of Coom-
| bias up to s10.o0o,Ooo.
Payment of S10,000U00 cash to Colom-
ba by the United States for an option on
the Atrato river canal route and coaling
d.
dencia.
An offer of the friendly influence OF the
United States with Panama for an adjust
ment between Panama and Colombia over
the partition.
An offer to arbitrate reversionary rights
| in Panama.
Rejected by Colombia.
| The Colombian foreign office rejected
| the plan because it omitted 10 recognize
| the claim of sovereignty over Panama.
The Atrate canal option would have
continued for seventy-five years, during
which Colombia would have enjoyed the
sum of S10.OOO,oUu with interest; she
might have recovered from her claims on
the Panama railroad had an arbitration
been in her favor. some S16,0W,OuO; other
| claims were estimated at some s3'.ooo,"o.
In all, had Colombia won all her conten-
tions her recovery would have totaled
more than S9u,UU0,O0O.
Just before going out of office Pres
ident Taft transmitted a letter to Con-
gress containing Secretary KnoXs re-
port of the negotiations saying that
Colombia by refusal had CLOSED the
door to any future overtures by the
United States. Secretary Hay had
previously declined to submit colom-
bias claims to arbitration on the
ground that they were political and not
justifiable and further that they
might call in the question of the right
of Panama to exist as sovereign
state.
Wilson Reopens Negotiations.
Soon after President Wilson took
office the negotiations were reopened,
and have been proceeding steadily to
the conclusion reached yesterday at
Bogota when a treaty was signed.
1t is assumed here that the Colombian
foreign office would not approve a treaty
which the Congress of the country would
be unlikely to ratify.
How far the administration here has
gone toward sounding the Senate on its
proposals is not known, and any prelim
mary steps looking toward ratification
probably will not be taken until the terms
of the convention have been fully trans
mitted to Secretary Bryan and he has
privately advised senators of the foreign
relations committee.
Colombia Treaty Is Signed.