The Arizona copper camp., 1916-03-10
EDITORIAL
COLOMBIA'S CLAIMS

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It appears that the Republic Of Co.
lombia claims Great Corn and Little
Corn Islands, in the Caribbean sea,
which will pass to the United States by
the terms of the treaty with Nicaragua,
as ratified by the Senate. But, mani
festly, the Colombian diplomats would
not be helping their own case, in their
effort to obtain millions of dollars from
the United States as indemnity for the
loss of Panama, if they should now
attempt to meddle in the Nicaragua
matter.
The Corn Islands lie some sixty miles
off the east coast Of Nicaragua They
are important only as military out
posts, in consideration of the project of
another interoceanic canal, across
Nicaragua, the exclusive and perpetual
option for which is secured by the
United States in this treaty. At a
greater distance in the Caribbean, lie
Old Providence and st. Andrews
islands, which admittedly belong to
Colombia, though they are hundreds
OF miles farther removed from her
coast than from Nicaragua's. Geo.
graphically, these four islands may be
said to be Of one group, but that is not
significant. Colombia represents, how
ever, that she has never admitted Mic
aragua' claim Of sovereignty over the
Corn islands For all practical pur-
poses, the treaty between the latter
country and the United States would
settle any such dispute. None of the
islands is of any value to Colombia,
except, perhaps, to trade for something
else.
The Colombian diplomats would be
prudently advised not to make pro-
test-which would, Of course, be futile
against the cession by Nicaragua Of
these outlying islands. They will have
plenty to do, apparently, to- induce the
Senate to settle the long standing
Panama issue, as proposed by the
Bryan treaty. That treaty has already
been riddled, the foreign relations
committee in it's report having cut the
indemnity which Colombia demands"
from twenty five to fifteen millions, and
the benevolent Mr.. Bryan is no longer
in position to help it along.
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to be magnanimous, and considerations
of Pan-American politics may influence
the Senate, eventually, to ratify this
treaty in some form. But there is
abundant evidence to show that Co.
lombia cannot claim, as matter Of
right, fifteen millions, or fifteen cents,
in reparation for the loss Of Panama.
Mr.. Root, when Secretary Of State, re-
jected the claim fatty.
Among other informing documents
submitted to Congress, the Secretary
of the Commercial Museum Of Phila-
delphia, some time ago, prepared his
torical review of the questions, based
on official records, in particular tracing
the fundamental relations of Panama
to the Republic Of Colombia. This
should prove instructive to such Of the
American people as desire to get at the
truth about the matter. The out
standing fact is that Panama had an
inalienable right to be Independent Of
Colombia if it chose. This so-called
province was really a federated SOW
ereignty, kept subject to a reckless
and greedy Government at Bogota by
physical force. The suggestion is that,
in countenancing the revolt which
cleared the way for beginning the Can
al job, the Government at Washington
cannot be charged with an unprovoked
assault upon Colombia, for which COM
pensation should now be made.