Evening star., 1915-01-12
RATIFICATION IS URGED
Of COLOMBIA TREATY
Senator Ransdell Declares Latin.
American Trade Prize Is
at Stake.
Also Contends Every Principle Of
Justice Demands That Action
Be Taken at Once.

The speedy ratification of the treaty
negotiated by the Wilson administration
with the Republic OF Colombia was
urged in a speech in the Senate yester-
with the republic OF Colombia was
Under this treaty the United States
would pay Colombia 5000. 900 for the
Panama canal strip and express regret
Of the United States that any contro-
versy should have arisen when the re-
public Of Panama became Independent OF
Colombia.
Senator Jones of Washington called
attention to the fact that Senator
Ransdell was addressing himself IN
open session of the Senate to execu-
tive business usually conidered ben1no
closed doors in executive session. NO
attempt was made. however, to malt tne
speech. It is probable ai, tnne ,oI,p0, oHpUi this
lead ard speak in the open senate OH
the proposed treaty.
Until Colombia's grievance is re-
moved" said Senator Ransdell. there
can be no cordial relation and peace
with the Latin-American world"
Declares Trade Prize at Stake.
He insisted that the paramount mat
people of the United States thought
about the treaty, but what the Latin
Americans thought of 1t. Most OF the
na'icns of South and Central America
in his opinion, sympathized with Co
lombia, and were inclined to look upon
the United States with ill feeling as
lone as the treaty negotiated at 30
gotta remained unratif1ed. To further
delay ratification of the pending
treaty, he declared. would put bar
rier across the path of the movement
to win for the United States that part
of the trade of Latin-American coun-
tries which Europe Is losing because
Of the war"
COLOMBIA is weak the senator con-
tinued, land believes we have griv-
ously wronged her Can we anord to to
Colombia's claim can be denied? Every
principle of justice, of sound business
and wise craftsmanship demands that
this treaty be ratified at once"
Quotes Presidents Speech.
After quoting from President Will
sons celebrated speech at Mobile, at
the beginning of his administration,
in which he outlined his position that
the United States should never again,
during his administration. seek addi-
tional territory by conquest. and de-
claring the question of the ratification
of the treaty is not a political one,
Senator Ransdell said:
I'VE should not forget that few
days before the closing Of President
Tafts' administration, as one of his
very last official acts. he sent to Con-
sress message indorsing COM
munication from the then Secretary of
State, Mr.. Knox. which concludes as
follows:
1.-The very latest telegram from Mr..
Du Bois shows that in a subsequent
interview he took it upon himself in
formally to ask whether if the United
States should. without requesting op-
tions or privileges of any kind, offer
Colombia $25.oOo;o0o. it's good offices
with Panama. the arbitration, Of the
question of the reversionary rights In
the Panama railway and preferential
rights of the canal, the government
would accept; to which he was an
swered in the negative"
Colombia then declined, Senator
Ransdell said. because her claim was
at that time for S50,000,000.