The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-19
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HAEKIN, Director.
Washington, ., G
THE COLOMBIAN TREATY.

II washingtou. u, G
THE COLOMBIAN TREATY.
washington. DC. Dec. 1s.-The
presidents request that the senate
ratify the treaty which the admins
tration has made with the Republic
of Colombia brings back to public at
| tention a very ancient quarrel, which
| is greatly in need of settling.
Altho the events with which the
treaty deals were famous enough at
the time, the years have made them
dim in the memory of all but few.
The general public really doesn't
know what the treaty is about. nor
! whether it should be ratified.
The argument against the treaty,
| and the reason why the senate has
| refused to ratify it at the requests OF
two presidents, is that it amo.nts to
a confession of wrong-doing. or at
| least an expression of regret for past
| events, by the United States govern
ment.
But there is also a very strong
, reason for ratifying the treaty. That
| is that such action would go long
| way to improve the standing OF the
| United States and of all citizens there
| Of in Latin America. The little tropi,
| cal republics are inclined to regard
| the United States as big Fully, bent
| on taking from them what she wants
| and giving nothing in return. The
way in which we took Panama away
| from Colombia, whatever justifica-
| ton it may have had in expediency.
| has naturally tended to strengthen
that impression in the Latin-Ameri-
| can mind.
Ratification of this treaty will mean
| that the United States has decided to
| make some reparation to Colombia
| for it's part in causing her to lose the
province of Panama, and also the
| $1O,O0O,O0O which went to Panama in
Ill 1t ANT frNy
| the canal rights.
| Heretofore, when reparation has
! been suggested, congress has baked at
| agreeing to pay Colombia twenty-five
or even fifteen million dollars, partly
| because of the large sum of money
| to be spent for no return, and partly
| because of the apology to the republic
| implied in the payment and expressed
| in the treaty in the form of regret
| The policy of the United States does
not permit of national apologies; but
regrets may be expressed by nation
| without lowering its dignity. At least
| this has been the opinion of Presidents
Taft and Wilson, both of whom have
advocated the measure as the only
course left to the United States in
order to square herself with Colombia
and restore the confidence Of the
| South American countries.
Before railroads brought the West
q
treaty was arranged with the Republic
| of Colombia, then called the Republic
| of New Granada. BY this treaty of
1S4S, we were allowed the right of
way across the Isthmus of Panama
as a short cut to our western lands,
and in return we were pledged to
maintain the rights OF Colombia in
our use of her territory. At this time
Panama was a part of the Republic
of New Granada.
Iolf lot
| ranging for more extensive use of the
| isthmus, this time with the idea Of
completing the canal started by the
French. The treaty, offering Colom-
bia s10.000,000 for canal rights, was
| ratified by our senate and passed to
| the Colombian legislature. The legis-
lature hesitated before signing away
| its most valuable property, and Presi-
dent Roosevelt grew impatient.
Fearing refusal, he attempted to
| dramatically, "Ratify the treaty or
you will regret it." This message
fastened the answer, but it was not
| the expected confirmation of the
| of our offer. But Colombia did not
| consider the matter closed. She an
| nounced that she still hoped to arbi-
| trate the canal question.
Before any adjustment could be pro-
posed, a mimic revolution, run by a
| few politicians. broke out in Panama.
| Success for a handful of unarmed
revolutionists, who had not even Sc
cured the approval and cooperation
| of the people of Panama, would have
been impossible, but for the fact that
| the United States issued an order that
no troops be flowed to land in Pana-
| ma. While United States marines held
| back the Colombian troops sent to Quell
| the revolt, a flag was hoisted and q
! To- n a
| United States recognized the Republic
| of Panama, regardless of the fact that
! it was unorganized and without con-
stitution, and ordered Colombia not to
attempt to regain the lost state.
| The revolution has been attributed
to Panama's resentment at the rejec-
ton of the treaty. To Panama, the
canal meant progress and develop
ment, and the apparent lack OF con-
| sideration on the part of the fegisla-
ture was strongly denounced. Yet the
general population of Panama was
vastly more surprised at the sudden
| uprising than was the United States
government.
Detention of Colombian troops was
| justified by President Roosevelt on
| the grounds that, according to the
treaty of 1S4S, he was bound to keep
| peace in the republic. This suggests
the proposition: Should a policeman
| be prevented from attacking a law
breaker because a scuffle might fol-
low, thereby disturbing the peace?
The administration also made
another explanation of its attitude,
stating that the people of Panama de-
| sired a republic, that this desire was
laudable and that. therefore. it was
high time for the United States to
cease helping Colombia maintain
| order.
| In a word, our action In abetting the
| Panama revolt, was hard to justify by
sheer logic. But it is generally con-
sidered to be justified by the results
| obtained. We had to have the canal
rights. We got them.
Existence of the new republic was
i sca rcaly knnxrn % the xvnrld Uhen