Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-15
Atoncmcnt to Colombia

Atoncmcnt to Colombia
T is unfortunate. we think. that approval or
disapproral of the Colombian treaty. which
seeks to rectify the wrong President Roosevelt
did that country when he took the Canal
Zone, should be compiled ed by considerations
of Colombian or Latin American resentment.
The Senate should ratify this treaty act
of Justice and not because Of any fear OF
the consequences should ratification be with
held.
1t IS truo that prudence. as we'll as prin-
ciple, ought TO forbid us. lightly and wantonly.
10 destroy Latin American confidence in our
good faith. but that reflection was more suit
able TO the occasion OF the alleged Panama
rebellion, which our navy made effective, than
IL is to the situation which confronts us to-
day. The well-intentioncd man, conscious
of having wronged his neighbor, becomes
stubborn in the face of threats. and inclined
rather to defiance than to reparation This
tendency is reflected in the statement of
Senator Lodge, that. even If he favored the
treaty. he would not vote for 1t under exist
ing circumstances.
1t is elementary right which should move
the Senate to approve the convention. Under
a treaty with New Granada, which subse-
quently became Colombia, the United States
placed itself under solemn obligation TO
regard and protect the territorial integrity
of that country. That obligation was repud-
ated as completely as Germany repudiated
her duty to Belgium. The evidence is con
elusive that the so-called revolution in the
Colombian Province Of Panama was en-
Eineered by the French Panama Canal Com
pany, through its chief engineer Philippe
Buneau-Varila and its lobbyist, William Mel
son Cromwell. The company's concession
was about to expire by limitation, and it had
to move quickly. 1t did--and American ma
rincs and American warships prevented the
forces OF Colombia from checking the insur-
dependent republic, Buneau-Varila its min
lister to Washington and the canal company
collected S40,000.000 from the United States
These facts have become historical; they
admit of no question. Steadfastly and for
years Colombia has offered to submit the
controversy to arbitration. and even now ac
cording to somc of her defenders, would
prefer arbitration to the ratification OF the
pending treaty. American lawyers who have
investigated the subject have declared it to
be certain that such arbitration would 20
against this country
In the last two administrations treaties OF
arbitration have been negotiated with many
OF the principal nations OF the earth, as well
as with some of the less important. If our
differences with Colombia had arisen with one
of these powers we would be required to arbi-
trate, yet we have declined Colombia's re-
itcratcd plea.
That is not the sort of national honor for
"hlch ne llmeS- Dlspatch has reverence.
we have committed wrong, the very weak
ness OF our adversary should make us the
more willing TO repair il. If arbitration is a
proper means OF settling disputes between ma
tionS, as the executive and Congress in both
Republican Democratic administrations have
declared it to be. then the mere absence OF
treaty should not negative it,
This is the time of all times when the
United States should be putting it's house in
order. The national honor and good faith
should be placed above national pride and
obstinacy. We owe atonement TO Colombia
and We ought To make it,