New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-05
GERMAN INFLUENCE IN COLOMBIA
Threat of Attack Upon the Panama Canal
Urges Passage of the Pending Treaty

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Two wears ago diiettante Englshmen
continued TO play tennis and gohi annuseu
themselves hunting and globe-trotting' SUI
nercilliously chirping Britannia Rule the
Waves. and that's our part" TO-DAY DrItaih
IA in agony: the organization OF the world Is
overthrovn; the scrawny hand OF bankruptcy
is closing on great nations; civilization Is
lettering America seems ABOUT " "
drawn into the awful vortex. DO we want
70 confront. in addition 10 the Central row
ore the yelled or possibly open hostility OF
the Latin-Amercan republics, or, as lar as
possible, present united Pan-Amerle"i'S''
in defence of law and order!
know Colombia as we'll as any living Ior-
,io,,cr There are in Colombia more Ger
mans than all other foreigners eo'noi'eu'
and they include all the reserves VINO wei,
prevented from embarking to go nome anu
fight at the beginning OF the war. No. "
number to the Germans come inc
Practically all the French and tnglsh %
military age have gone to the trehches' -
a. contomber last. when | came from Colon
bia, the overwhelming Sentlment IN Oo'o'''D'a '
,,oe nro-Allv. but nevertheless the German
col
devoted exclusively to German propaganda
has subsidized at least half a dozen others
aud in dozen more buys regular editorial
e,aca in everv issue. Why? They are not
cooIs these Germans, splendid fellows most
cf them. individually. Their only purpose
roesihle can be to create a subconsclous pro
German sentiment. ready to fan to flame II
occasion requires.
The present treaty negotiations were start
Cd nv President Taft and concluded by the
present Administration. The time mas co'"e
,vben personalities and partisanshlp must De
concentrated to Americas interest IN the
struggle for national life and human rights
Oniv to-day the man whom ! regard as our
u.oatos. outboritv said TO me: "WeIl event
uaIlv win out. but we're going to get
Tanned good licking at the start, and those
,ybo 90 in first are going to be sacrihced' l
am not at liberty to give his name or quote
tl,e words he said in accordance with my
views.
There Is smodering resentment IN
Colombia against our governments tnere
a tremendous German propaganda; there Is
no pro-American propaganda; Tor ten years
past Colombia has had forced military tram
ing. under German-tralned Chlieah oIIceIs
instruction. there are Colombian youths in
il inconceivable that the Central Powers
might offer Colombia the return of Panama
for the cooperation of her 100000 men OF
military age? Is it inconcevabe that, after
q tremendous sinking Of Allied ships or
rotable victory on land Colombia might fall
into the lure? Eventually it would mean her
obliteration. but meanwhile how many hun
dreds Of millions would it cost us, and how
many thousands Of lives? am by no means
sure that Colombia would yield to the tempta-
ton. but / know that the campaign to that
end is on.
The isthmus is a hundred times bigger
than the Danish Islands. The canal is the
worlds greatest work, and will be profitable
10 US beyond dreams of usury. For Colon
has hearty friendship we would pay only
what the distant little islands cost US, and
that in manner redounding to our direct
benefit Is il folly to pay our debt when the
payment gives not only a receipt. but the
GOOD will Of all the Latin republics? For
several years past have said nothing in re-
gard 70 settlement with Colombia, believing
that eventually the inherent sense of justice
Of the American people would clear up the
question But, under the circumstances.
feel that it would be unpatriotic, even Grim
inal, REASONABLE, for me TO keep silent re-
garding what | know and the inescapable
logic of the situation.
We want preparedness and not repentance.
Italy, Turkey, Japan, Bulgaria and Rumania
have been drawn into the war by promises
from one and the other side. When we go in,
apparently, it is unacceptable that all the
American republics will be drawn in. too. Do
we want them on our side, or against US? At
this crisis opposition to the Colombian treaty
does not do credit to any thinking man. fore
seeing American or United States Senator
HENRY G.. GRANGER
New York, Feb. %. 1917.