The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-07-24
Shall America he Held Up?

the demand for 25 million dollars
from Colombia. even though the
apology that was to have been in
cluded in the treaty is cut out. The
United States has an absolutely clean
record in the construction of the
Panama Canal. An unscrupulous
and autocratic government In Co
iomia tried to hold up this country or
prevent the canal construction.
Now to soothe the feelings OF the
South American republic IL is pro.
posed to meet its demands. Here are
the facts:
When President Roosevelt took up
the question of an isthmian cana,
two routes were possible-one across
Nicaragua. the other across Panama.
Congress left the choice with the
President. A French company had
already spent an enormous amount OF
money on the Panama route. II the
French work could be oDtaIneu Al u
reasonable. price. the Panama route
was preferable.
At this time Panama, which for
various periods had been lndepeud-
ent. was a province of Colombia. and
|
of Marroquin. This man had been
elected vice-president. Soon after
the inauguration, by a coup d 'etat, he
unseated the president, put him IN
prison. and governed as dictator.
For five years he did not permit the
Colombian congress to meet.
Roosevelt took up with Mario
quin's representative. Herran. the
question OF a right of way across the
isthmus. In fact the overtures came
which was naturally interested in the
10 millions of velvet which the canal
would be worth to 1t. The selection
OF the Nicaraguan route would have
been a commercial calamity to CO.
lombia.
After the treaty had been negoti-
ated, however, and the United States
was committed to the Panama route.
Marroquin decided II was safe to try
to raise his price. He summoned a
congress-the first in five years, re-
member-and had 1t reject the
treaty.
The fact that the people of CO.
lombia had nothing to do with the
matter. and that the congress was
puppets was proved by the attitude of
Marroquin after Panama had re-
volted. When he saw the 10 millions
slipping from him he made a new
proposal to the United States. He
offered to approve by decree" the
ratification of the Herran treaty "by
virtue Of vested constitutional author
ity." or. II the government of the
United States preferred. to call an ex-
ira session of congress with new and
friendly members" to approve the
treaty.
Now what was the situation?
backward nation through acci-
dent was sitting astride one of the
worlds most important highways. II
was totally unable to open the high
way itself. At the same time 1t was
seeking to block the work for the ben
eft of civilization that another power
was ready to do at the cost of hun
dreds of millions Of dollars. Having
for 10 million dollars the privilege OF
spending 400 millions on a world i'm
provement. its dictator was now
arbitrarily trying to take advantage
OF his position to put up the price to
20 millicns.
Confronting this situation Presi-
dent Roosevelt was at work on a
message urging Congress to proceed
with this necessary task without re-
gard to the consent of Colombia, on
the ground that no nation had the
moral right to block an Improvement
demanded by the world interest. The
message was not sent because of the
revolution in Panma. The revolution
was promoted by interests back of the
old French Panama Canal Company.
There was no secret about the prepa-
rations as dispatches published in
American newspa cers for 1903 show.
About the middle of October in
that year two army officers return
Ing from Panama reported the situa-
tion to President Roosevelt. He at
once ordered ships to the isthmus to
protect American interests. The Nash
Vile arrived at Colon Just in time to
save slaughter of Americans by CO.
lombian troops. Marines were landed
In response to notification to the
American consul from the CO.
lombian commander that he intended
to open fire on Colon and kill every
United States citizen in the place.
The next day the Colombian troops
were withdrawn.
The Colombian government was
then notified that under the provision
of our treaty with that country the
United States would prevent inter-
ference with traffic across the
isthmus by refusing to allow troops to
be transported across It. This, of
course, insured the success of the rev.
olution.
Undoubtedly II was taking advant-
age OF something like a technically.
But on several previous occasions the
United States had landed troops on
the isthmus to carry out the provision
of the treaty. To refuse to land them
when the outcome would be an
enormous benefit to civilization
would have been leaning backward.
We recognized the new Panama gov
ernment. paid 1t the 10 million dol
lars and built the canal.
I'D