Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-06-07
THE COLOMBIAN TREATY.

Among the matters that failed of any action
at this session is the treaty between the United
States and the United States of Colombia. This
treaty has now been before the senate for rati-
ficaton for about seven years and no final action
on it has been taken 1t was negotiated by Mr..
Bryan when he was secretary of state IN the
early days of the first Wilson administration.
1t concerns itself with the seizure of the Panama
canal zone through revolution organized in
that country by American capitalists who had
bought up the interests of the old French canal
stockholders for song and who had made
deal with the Roosevelt administration to sell
these rights to the United States government
for large sum- The chief leader in this revo-
luton was Mr.. Cromwell, personal attorney OF
the late Mr.. Hartman then railroad magnate
and high finance specuator in this country. He
sailed with an expedition of men and ship load
of arms for the Panama canal strip, organized a
revolution against Colombia there and set up a
new republic called the republic of Panama.
Twenty-four hours after the cable announcing
this fact came to Washington, President Roose-
velt recognized the new republic and ordered our
army and navy to prevent the troops of Colon
ba from entering the canal zone to put down
the rebels A few days later he purchased the
canal zone from the new republic of Panama for
ten million dollars, which was the sum congress
had authorized him to pay over to the United
States of Colombia for this canal strip, but which
had been refused by Colombia.
To make the matter much worse there was IN
full force and effect at that time treaty be-
tween the United States and Colombia by the
ooH {ho ocny
eregnty and property rights of the Colombian
government in the canal strip. 1t was made
many years. before, 1864, if we are not mistaken.
At any rate, at that time this country had no
thought of building the Panama canal itself, but
was apprehensive that some other country Ike
France or Great Britain might covet the strip to
build canal on, and take it by force from 20
lombia So the fact unquestionably is that we
did ourselves the very trick that we guaranteed
Colombia in that treaty we would protect her
against on the part of any other power.
The treaty negotiated by Bryan recognized
the wrong done Colombia and made reparation
by paying her s25,000000 for the strip which
we guaranteed her rights over by treaty, but
took from her by financing revolution and AID
ing it with our army and navy against Colombia
We also expressed our regret for differences
that arose through our act, and the Colombian
government also expressed regret for the same
thing, Thus it was sought automatically to
soothe the pride of the great republic OF the Unit
cd States. which was not too proud to do wrong
hut was too proud to admit that it did wrong. OF
course. the agreement to pay Colombia for the
strin after we had already paid the republic OF
Panama for it. was in itself full admission that
,vo had wronqed Colombia If we had not, why
nav for it again? The senate wranged over this
treaty and did nothing, just as they did with the
Versailles treaty. First they objected to the
cIause expressing regret, and that clause was
subsequently, eliminated by consent in an amend
cd treaty. Then they objected to the sum. Some
senators were willing to pay ten million IN repair
aton and some fifteen million. OF course, if
we had paid anything at all it was admission that
we owed reparation to Colombia and If any rep
| aration was due it was because she had suffered
| wrong at our hands Finally, the senate com
/ mttee on foreign relations recommended that
the treaty with the twenty-five million indem
nitv be ratified, and it was understood that q
two-thirds majority could be mustered to put il
through. but the senate has been so busy doing
nothing in the last nine months that it could not
find day to act on this long delayed treaty, sc
if is hung up with other matters quite as i'm
portant until next year, when the elections are
over Perhaps it may then be ratified in its
present form.