Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-11-29
CLUB DISCUSSES
COLOMBIAN AFFAIR
Should or Should Not the South
American Country Be Paid a
Large Sum Over Panama?

Should or should not Colombia be
paid a large sum OF money over the
Panama question. The affair was dis
cussed on Friday night at the home Of
Mr.. and Mrs. A. S. Kingsford by Mrs.
Maude Newell Williams and by the
host. Mrs. Williams was in Colombia
at the time the difficulty arose be-
tween the United States and that coun-
try, and the home of Rev. and Mrs.
Williams was stoned by the populace.
The people were very much incensed
at the attitude taken by the United
States and still claim large sum of
money, asking for $15000,000 or more.
The sum is sometimes stated at $685.
100000, and were it not for the war
the question would be one of the big
issues in congress at this time.
Mrs. Williams was thoroughly con-
versant with the situation and present
ed her case fully, going back to the
treatyAof 1916 and covering the ground
in all particulars, from her point OF
view, up to the present time. Her
statements were convincing and ably
presented.
In the first place the French attempt
ed to build the canal and failed. 1t was
then for the United States to finish the
lob. Panama was a part Of Colombia.
had rebelled a number of times and
had been brought into subsection.
When it came time to dig the canal a
rebellion was Matched in New York,
staged in Panama and three days aft
erward the new government was rec
ognized by the United States. Pres
ident Roosevelt told Colombia to keep
away, dug the canal and the South
American government is out in the
cold. Colombia has asked again and
again that the matter be submitted
to The Hague but the United States
turns a deaf ear TO Mrs, Williams
the conduct of President Roosevelt
looked like that Of a kaiser, and the
setting up Of new government has
the coloring of the invasion Of Bel
gium. Mrs. Williams says that part
of the COl0mbians do not want all OF
the money paid at once, but through
a term of years, in order that posterity
may benefit from the gold received.
The Side of the United States
Mr.. Kingsford presented the side OF
the United States. He said that in
the beginning a treaty was drawn up
in Washington by the Colomblans
themselves, just to suit themselves,
and when they returned with 1t TO
Bogata they failed to get it ratified.
President Roosevelt was ready to have
the treaty signed and the two millions
asked for, paid About that time the
president Of Colombia was thrust into
Jail and later poisoned. Things were
in a turmoil much like it is in Russia
or Mexico at this time. Mr.. Roose-
welt took the whip into his own hands.
made treaty with the new republic
of Panama and dug the canal. II Co
lOmbia had stood by her agreement
there would have been no trouble
Roosevelt started to dig the canal and
he dug it. At one time the United
States would have granted much more
than $2,000,000 and still at later time
Colombia would have taken much less
than offered. Panama was under the
iron rule of Colombia, much like Cuba
was under that of Spain, and desired
liberation. In the end Colombia at
tempted to double cross this country
and the scheme did not work. Mr..
Kingsford argued the question should
not be taken to The Hague, for it was
purely an American issue and should
go to the Pan-American congress at
Washington, where such difficulties
are settled. Taking it to Europe might
bring in other issues and it would be
better for both countries to have the
matter adjusted here.
Mr.. Kingsford's arguments were sup
ported by historic facts and ably pre-
sented. The sentiment of the club
was that Colombia should be paid
something, not that she was entirely
in the right, but for better trade rela-
tions