Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-19
President Wants Treaty
WithColombia Ratified
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

| brings back to public attention very
ancient quarrel, which is greatly in need OF
settling.
Although the events with which the
treaty deals were famous enough at the
time the wears have made ther' lin III
the memory OF all but few he sen-
cral public really doesn't know ha the
the treaty is about nor whether it should
he ratified
Is The argument against the treaty and
the reason why the Senate has refused to
raufy 1t al the requests of two presidents,
Is that II amounts to confession OF
wrong-doing, or at least IN expression Of
regret for past events, by the United
States Government.
But there is also very strong reason
for ratifyIng the treaty. That IS that such
action would go a long way 10 improve
the standing OF the United States and of
i all citizens thereof in Latin America. The
little tropical rrpu lies are inclined To re
| gard the United States rs u big bully,
bent on taking from them what she wants
and giving nothing in return. The way III
winch VIC took Panama away from olom-
| bIa. whatever justification II may have
had in cXpedIcncv, has naturally tended
| to strengthen that impression IN the Latin
/ American mind
MEANS RFPtRATIoN, roo
| Ratification Of hi> treaty will mean that
| the United States has decided to m Ike
some rcparation to Colombia for its part
| IN causing her To lose the province Of
| Panama. and also the so 600 900 which
/ went 10 Panama instead Of Colombia as
/ our payment Tor the canal rights.
| Heretofore when reparation has been
| suggested. Congress has baked at agree
! ing 10 pay Colombia - or even l5 million
| dollars partly because oi the large SIM oi
! money to br spent fer no return. and part
| IL hacauSc of the apology 10 the republic
| lmplcd IN the payment 9nd expressed IN
| the treaty IN the form ol u ragret The
| policy Of The United States docs not per
, NIT Of national apologies; bat regrets may
| hc expressed bv nation without lowering
IL, dignity At least this has been the
+! opinion of Presidents Taft and Wilson.
| both Of whom have advocated the mea-
| sure as the only course left 10 the nited
| states in order - square herself with
| Colombia and restore the confidence of
| tho South American countries
Before railroads brought the West into
| the organized mtcd States. treaty was
! arranged with the Republic of Colombia.
! then called The Republic Of New Granada
| Ry this treaty oi 1918, We were allowed
tho right of WAY across the IsthmuS of
| Panama o. n short cut 10 our western
| lands. and m return VIC were pledged to
MAINTAIN he rights al Colombia in our use
al her territory At tins time Panama was
a part oi The Republic Of New Granada
kcoSElEIT GREW INPATIENT.
Half century later, we were arranging
for more extensive use Of the isthmus
this time with tho idea Of completing the
canal started by Tic French. The treaty,
offering Colombia S10.O0O,0O0 for canal
rights. was ratified By our Senate and
passed to tho Colombian legislature The
legislature hcsitated before signing away
lt~ most valuable property and President
Roosevelt grew impatient
Fearing refusal, he attempted to force
The hand ~ Colombia by cabling dr;A-
matic;lly "Ratify the treaty Or YOU will
regret II This message hastencd the
answer but 1t was not the expected CON
firmation ot the treaty. Il Was uneon-
dtional refusal 81 our offer But Colombia
did not consider the matter closed She
announced that she still hoped to arhi-
traIc the canal question.
Before any adjustment could be pro-
posed, a mimic revolution. run by few
politicians. broke out in Panama Sue
cess for a handful OF unarmcd revolution
iSts, who had not even secured the ap-
provai and cooperation OF the people of
Panama would have been impossible.
but for the fact that the United States
isslled an order that no troops be allowed
- land in Panama. While United States
Marines held back the Colombian troops
sent 70 quell ne revolt flag was holsted
and q republic declared Nine days later
the | nlted States recognized the Republic
Of Panama. regardless Of the fact that 1T
ton. and ordered Colombia not to at
tempt to regain the lost state
[. :. NOT SURPRISED.
The revolution has been attributed Ia
Panama resentment a. the rejection of
the treaty 10 Panama, the canal meant
progress and development, and the APP
parent lack Of consideration on the part
81 the legislature was strongly denounced
Ye; the general population Of Panama was
vastly morc surprised A the sudden up
r~Ing han vas the nited States gov
eminent
Detention of Colombian troops was
justified hy President Roosevelt Oh the
ground that according ~ the treaty III
lniN hc was bound to keep peacr n the
Republic This suggest the proposition
Should policeman bc prevented from
attacking q law breaker because 1 scuffie
might follow, thereby disturbing the /
peace?
The adminlst ration also made another /
explanation oi its attitude. stating that
The people of Panama desired . republic, j
that ms desire VA iaudabie, and that, /
therefore il was nigh tIne for the United
states 10 cease helping Colombia main
tain order
ID a word, our action IN abettlng the |
Panama revolt Wao hard TO justify by /
sheer logic But i IS generally considered
- r. justified ~ The results obtained
had 70 have the canal rights We got
hcnl
Existence oi tic new republic Vas scarce
il known to the world when the United
states consummafcd with it an agreement !
"oncedng to lis he long-s0ught canal
nights The Republic Of Panama gTasped
eagerly tie offer WINCH Colombia had
rejected
There i no suggestion that this treaty
with Panama be revoked nor that the
territory which our interference lost to
Colombia be returned OF paid for in full
The question IS one Of partla reparation
70 the Cent raj American republic for
breach Of faith
COLOMBIA ASKS ARBI4RATIoE
Colombia has urged that the question
be referred 10 q Hague Conference or
that an arbitration court be instituted 70
settle he extent TO which Colombian rights
have been damaged This suggestion Of
arbitration has been ignored by the
| nitcd States Congress secirs to realizc /