New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-13
Harding Urges
Senate to ass
Colombian Pact
Message of March 9 Made
Public for First Time
and Lodge Adds Strong
Plea for Ratification
Need for Harmony Cited
Treaty Is Declared to Have
Been Approved by Roose.
welt as Now Presented


WASHINGTON, April II - Debate
over the Colombian treaty was opened
in the Senate this afternoon when SEN
ator Lodge, chairman Of the Foreign
Relations Committee, in Il lengthy adj
dress advocated ratification of the pact.
In proceeding to consider the treaty,
the message of President Harding of
March 9 to the Senate favoring ratif-
cation was made public for the first
time. The message read:
81 very respectfully invite the atten-
ton of the Senate to the pending treaty
which has been negotiated between the
United States and the Republic of Co.
lombia which is in the hands of your
honorable body, with full information
relating to its negotiation and its later
modification and revision.
THE early and favorable considera-
ton of this treaty would be very help
full at the present time in promoting
our friendly relationships. There have
been many and long delays in dealing
with this treaty, until we have been
made to seem unmindful, when in truth
we have had no thought but to deal
with this sister republic in a most cor
dial consideration. | believe the re-
Nlsed treaty to be q fair expression of
our Just and friendly relationship with
the Republic OF Colombia, and | would
feJolce TO have our example in dealing
with the Republic Of Colombia made an
assurance of that promptness and firm
ness and justice which shall invite
added confidence in our government and
ne" regard for our own Republic.
WARREN G. HARDING"
Defends Rooseyelt's Action
Senator Lodge took the lead to-day in
speaking for settlement OF differ
ences with Colombia lie declared he
had never had the slightest doubt
that President Roosevelt was not only
absolutely justified but absolutely right
IN the action taken by him to set free
the canal route by sustaining the Re-
public of Panama" He said what Pres
ldent Roosevelt did Islands out as one
OF the greatest public services ever
rendered by any President of the
United States"
Moreover, he asserted the conduct of
Colombia in dealing with the Hay
hetran treaty in 1908 was entirely in
defensible, "and the motives and pur-
treaty We're even worse He alluded
to the rejection of the Hay-Herran
treaty by Colombia because of efforts
on the part Of that government to get
more money out Of the United States
and out of the proprietors of the
French canal.
Senator Lodge justified his present
attitude on the ground that the treaty
as 1t stood March IA, 1917, when he
signed minority report from the For
eign Relations Committee opposing
ratification, had been "vitally changed
Furthermore. he sought to show that
the policy of restoring good relations
with Colombia was entered on by Pres
ident Roosevelt himself during his own
administration" and Was continued in
the Taft and Wilson administrations
and into the present Administration.
Bryan's Treaty "lntolerable"
Saying he would never have consent
ed to an apology to Colombia or to
anything rejecting on President Roose-
welt, Senator Lodge proceeded:
"ln the Admins tration of President
Taft this policy was adhered to and
second negotiation was opened with
Colombia for the same purposes and
on the same principles This negotia-
|
again when President Wilson came in
and treaty was made which in amend
ed form is now before us. 1t was easy
for Mr.. Bryan to make this treaty be-
I cause he apparently allowed Colon bia
! to write 1t. It began with an article
OF apology by the United States, wholly
lntolerable. and was improvident!y
drawn in other respects. SO far as
am personally concerned-and Repub.
hcan members of the committee shared
my views~-the treaty as it stood was
out of the question. | would never
nave assented to the first article under
any conditions, or to any form of word.
that could be distorted into a reflection
upon President Roosevelt and his ac
ton IN regard to Panama in 1908
which | thought absolutely right. O,
upon the United States.
nat is removed from the amended
treaty by striking out Article /. There
remains the objection grounded on the
amount OF the money payment | con
slder the amount (S25,O00, OOO) toe
great but to bring about q settlement
OF this question | am ready to waive
my objection on that point in order to
secure better relations with Colombia
and settlement of the vexed question
OF recognition and Of boundaries. An
amendment has also been added in re
gard to the periods and mode of paw
ment of the $4,000, 900, which, though
not reducing the total amount, has a
very considerable Importance in view
OF the future and in giving us GER
tam control over the money to be paid.
Referring to President Roosevelt,
attitude, Senator Lodge said
Il need not repeat again what he
actually did in his own Administra-
ton. He felt very strongly in regard
to the action of Colombia. and he re-
sented most deeply any suggestion that
ne had not behaved in the most hon
orable and straightforward way in
dealing with the revolution in Panama
and the subsequent establishment of
the canal, | absolutely shared all his
, views then and | share them now. and