New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
RATIFY COLOMBIAN TREATY NOW
The Advantages of Friendly NeighbOr to
Our AIl-Important Panama Canal
he EDITOR Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: 1t was fitting that Mr.. Henry H.
Changers letter on the necessity and I'M
portance of ratifying forthwith the pending
Colombian treaty should have found pubhca-
ton in your columns on Lincolns Birthday
II sounds a call for an act of the highest
patriotism.
The complete protection Of the Panama
Canal is an urgent necessity. by the pur-
chase of the Danish West Indies we recog
nize that this protection must begin Tar from
the borders of the Canal Zone itself. MT
Changers itemized enumeration Of the ports
and harbors on the Atlantic and Pacihc
coasts of Colombia, Panama's nearest neigh
bor. within striking distance of the canal
speaks for itself Wise diplomacy commands
that the sovereign Of these marine bases DC
an afirmatively friendly, not latently nos
tile. mower. Belgium's defence Of her neu-
tralitv was the salvation of France. Equally
necessary is it for this country that Colom-
bia be prepared whole-heartedly to de1end
her neutrality against foreign aggression
aimed at our canal
Colombia was at one time our frmest
friend in South America. We lost her TREND
shin becauss of the sincere belief of Colom-
bans that our mode OF acquisition OF the
canal was in ruthless violat:eG Of her speclhc
treaty rights and of general international
law. The Thompson-U treaty, the fruit
of the prior labors of Republican adminlstra-
tions and Republican diplomats, was giant
step toward regainng that friendship. It's
ratification. as Mr. Granger points out, will
tend to assure US the cordial good will of all
Latin America, will prove of immeasurable
commercial value and combine justice with
diplomacy of the highest order
I cannot too strongly ndorse Mr.. Changers
view. that any modification of the treaty by
the Senate would delay for long time the
consummation of a settlement. so further
I believe modification would endanger the
possibility of any diplomatic settlement. That
treaty, on Colombia's part, joined in by all
political parties, was a compromise between
widely divergent views. If the matter was
again thrown open to political discussion in
Colombia, the intransigeants in that country
would again make themselves heard.
Mr.. Granger has found happy solution Of
the suggested difficulty that Article of the
treaty expressing sincere regret that any
thing should have occurred to interrupt or to
mar the relations of cordial friendship" be-
tween the TWO countries IL d SldP az Nht ~
publican party. A resolution by the Senate
additional to ratification, interpreting that
article in a way harmonious with any posi-
bic Republican conceptions of national dig
nifty. is entirely feasible, and would in no way
affect the validity Of the treaty, or require
further action by the Colombian Congress.
Personally, believe the number Of Republi-
cans who are opposed to the treaty is negli-
gible As a Republican and student OF
Pan-American affairs, | have sounded men OF
our party throughout the country, and have
found that practically all who have given
any thought to the matter, and especially
those who are acquainted with Latin-Ameri-
can affairs, are in favor of the treaty. But
the fact needs TO be brought home to our
Republican Senators. This is the patriotic
duty devolving upon the rank and file of our
party and upon our editorial writer's Here
is an opportunity, arising colaterally from
the German crisis, for the nation, free from
partisan spirit, to show itself united.
PHAN0R j. EDER.
New York. Feb. II. 1917,