The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-27
u. 5. MUST PLACATE
COLOMBIA FOR TRADE
South America Feels This Ma
ton Should Win Its Friendship
Before Seeking Patronage.
ny CHARLES p. STEWART.


As a highly important step toward the
development of better pan-American
trade relations. II In the general opinion
among well-informed citizens OF the
southern countries that the United
States should win the friendship of the
masses Of the people In South America.
There are few dissenters from the
view that start must be made with
Colombia. Colombia considers that she
was robbed Of Panama. Her resentment
IL monomania with her. To a less de-
gree the other republics feel the same
way about Il. To some extent this Ia
mere abstract sympathy. To n very
prehension lest the same thing. or some
think like II happen to one OF them
some time.
Colombians make Il their business to
furnish plenty OF fuel to keep this flicker
q lot Of missionary work throughout
South America. About 10000 Colombians
are scattered among the leading cities
OF other South American countries than
their own. For some reason most OF
them seem to be newspapermen. These
newspapermen have considerable infu-
ence with the papers which employ
them. especially In view OF the fact that
tide papers themselves have much the
sit up until long after their regular bed
times any night to tell other South
Americans how, In their opinion. the
United States wronged Colombia. There
IL no question that they make n big i'm
preston.
Look for Compensation.
Pedro sondereguer. for instance, a Co
iombian. In one OF the best-known news.
paper men In Buenos Aires. lilo IN
known at home as a philosophical writer
and essaylst. has had diplomatic APP
pointments from his country. and repre-
scented her at the Buenos Aires Pam
American conference OF 1910 and at the
Argentine Independence centenary this
year.
Panama has gone now" sondereguer
admits, and perhaps Its surrender nv
Colombia. In the interests OF the canals
construction, was inevitable, but wo
don't like the way la which IL was
taken, and we think We ought 10 To
compensated.
preston OF North Americas regrets for
the manner IN WHICH she acted. as al
Bogota.
I'VE want also the c5.coo.ooo which
the original treaty provided for. a. our
indemnity. Ten millions isn't enough.
IL Isn't n fair price for what We lost.
Nobody In Colombia. and nobody. !
think. In South America considers Il
but. aside from any moral issue" ~
was suggcstcd. what good would II do
the United States TO agree 20 these
things? Wouldn't the Coiombians take
the regrets and the money and continue
thlr hatingT''
mean Colombian recognition OF Pana-
mas Independence" was the answer.
AT present the isthmus continues 10
appear In all Colombian school books as
Colombian territory. Every time a Coz
lomblan rchoolboy studies his geography
his teacher has to explain to him why
his country does not actually possess
Panama. IN this way the United Statas
In represented daily In all OF our 5000
odd schools as t.,o very worst country
In the world. You can Imagine what
Kind OF an impression Il produces.
"Coiombia's friendship. which the
United States might win IN che chose.
would he worth North Americas while.
too. Not TO mention what We could buy
there, We have resources II would pay
North Americans To develop.
Richest In south America.
I'VE are naturally the richest country
In South America. We are the fourth
country In the world IN coal deposits.
We produce gold. platinum. copper and
many other minerals. Nearly l2,ooo min
NHk
the country. One year we produced 10
per cent OF the Americans gold output.
We have rich oil deposits. and the only
good emerald mine la the world. Fur
thermorc. We are immensely rich as an
agricultural and cattle-raising country"
But why" II was suggested again.
cant North Americans buy and de-
velop these resources Much as they
may he disiikod Ia Colombia. the Colom-
bians surely wouldn't refuse TO sell TO
them. IL they could do Il profitabiy7"
You can judge for yourself" said
from what happened TO
the Bogota street railway company In
1910. The line belonged TO North Amer
leans. There was n fresh strain OF re-
lations between Colombia and the Uni
ted States that year. As a result OF Il.
all the company's Colombian employees
quit. The company manned the line
with foreigners, Then boycott started.
For months the cars were run without
a single Colombian passenger.
Finally the municipality bought the
property with money furnished, In part.
by the national government The own.
ers had to sell Il for a song>because Il |
was dead loss TO them.
Colombia would do all In her power
10 secure an honorable settlement OF
her differences with the United States. |
We feel now, however. that our pre-
vious experience has proved her "A neigh
Dor with whom II Is dangerous Tor US
To deal"