Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-22

ptutpu6 province. Nllnln ono thys -
hours and Al minutes. az calculated by
somo, after the proclamation OF rama
mas declaration of independence. we
| recognized the new state as an inde-
| pendent nation. Mr.. President, history
records no precedent for such speedy
recognition OF "a new state. II was
nearly three years after Concord and
Lexington and two years after our
| Declaration OF Independence before
France accorded us recognition in 177S.
When the South American colonies re-
volted from Spain I'm 1910 we waited for
IL years and England for Ia years be-
fore the revolted colonies were recog-
nized as Independent states. In these
instances armies were in the field, cam
paigns were being fought. governments
were set up and functioning. Yet down
in Panama, when the great campaign
for liberty was attended in It's mighty
upheaval with the enormous total cas-
ualties of one Chinaman and a mule.
we. before two suns could rise and set
after the declaration of independence OF
Panama, FASTENED TO recognize little
group of conspirators as the govern
nent of an independent nation. Mr..
President, | cannot recall the events at
tending that ludicrous uprising without
escaping the conclusion that however
technically correct we may have been
IN recognizing the new state. we wrong
ed Colombia. Oppenheim in his work
! on international law. states that IAN
untimely and precipitate recognition of
new state is violation of the dignity
OF the n, Ler state To which the latter
need not politely submit" Colombia. il
she had had sufficient strength to war
rant. would have been justified in max
In ffs
milton cause of war. But her weak
ness prevented such course. | am con
WINGED that If we had been dealing with
Germany or some other state of like
power. our action would have been less
hasty. Shall we now decline to make
Just compensation for an act of which
sister nation justly complains. which in
her weakness she was unable to resent?
think we ought to make tho compcn-
sation. | shall vote for the treaty"
Mr. WolcOtt let IL be expressly un-
derstood that he did not agree with
some of the reasons advanced by the
proponents of the treaty for it's ratif-
cation. He criticised the departure
from the practice of discussing treaties
in secret session and said on this point:
In passing. | cannot refrain from OBJ
serving that l question very seriously
the wisdom of this new practice The
good that may flow from ii is in danger
OF being far outweighed by the evil
II IL continues for another quarter cen
tury. there will not he a nation on earth
which Will not have been publicly criti-
Cised or abused or VIII lse feelings viii
not have been irritated by one or more
Senators Of the United States. speak
ing here in this place Of official respon-
sibility for reasons which at times may
he blameless and at other times ques-
uonable. Such discussions will in due
time result in an accumulation Of na-
tional antagonisms which. in the end.
will have us disliked by all. loved by
none, and ostracised as is the common
scold among his fellows in any com
munity.
But. Mr.. President II we are TO throw
our doors open in order that all the
world may know the considerations
which lead us into treaty contract let
Us not stultify ourselves by accepting
secret and undisclosed considerations
Tor our action. such as may be elnbod
led in the euphonious phrase. reasons
of state. What boots ii to open the
doors OF this chamber that he public
may read our minds. and then in the
presence of the public retire into the
secrecy OF phrase? I do not know
what these reasons II state are. and
II the Senate Is to be governed in this
matter by such pretext II II is 10 ac-
cept IL like a guIlible child the assur-
ance that il ought to ratify this treaty
because undisClosed reasons of State
demand. It would he much better for
the Senate to refuse 10 go into open
executive session. For then. sir. We
could hide ourselves behind closed doors !
save from public insl on the
paucity Of our statesmanship and its
complete dependence on mysterious
guidance. No. Mir. President II the /
doors are I, be open. let US have facts I
and not obscurity. ] shall not vote
for this treaty on the theory that mys- !
terious reasons of State demand H.
We are further told that we ought
10 make TO Colombia some suitable com
pensation for the self inflicted loss
which she sustained. Perhaps we ought. I
cannot see It. however II Colombia /
inflicted the loss on herself let her
sustain II. ! know of no rule OF morals |
by which one nation is bound 10 make 7
good the losses inflicted by another na-
tion on itself =. II we came h,. /
our rights in Panama by procedure that /
was correct and proper on our part. We /
owe Colombia nothing for her supposed I
folly in infiicting loss upon herself.
shall not vote for this treaty on any +
theory that, having done Colombia no I
wrong. we are nevertheless to compen- 4
safe her for her own folly. 'Compensa-
tion'-why. Mr.. President, we compen- /
safe only when we are under some sort 4
OF obligation.
1t is said by others. notably by the I
senior Senator from Massachusetts. /
whose point OF view towards this treaty /
has undergone a violent change that
We ought to ratify the treaty because I
we need to acquire from Colombia the (
necessary right TO protect the canal +
against assault from a possible future 4
enemy who might approach 10 its at 4
tack from points to the south. points
in the control of Colombia
When We try 10 secure these valuable /
rights by a SUBSEQUENT treaty OF amity .
and commerce with Colombia, how
much more we will be required to pay 4.
for these fortilcation rights no one is I
able TO say. l apprehend that we will
be required TO do something more than /.
merely say, Thank you very kindly
The senior Senator from Massachu-
sets also says that we ought To enter