Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-22
GOOD WILL is THE KEYNOTE
OF THE COLOMBIAN TREATY
Clouds OF Apprehension. Dark. Though
Unjustfied, Are DspeIIed by an
Epoch Making Pact

Epoch. Making Pact
THE injustice of an argument is not ncces-
L sarily evidence of its iuefectiveness.
South American resentment over the
methods by which the Panama Canal nego-
tiations were put through is testimony on
this point
Since 1903. when the Isthmian republic
came into being. propaganda against the
nitrd States has fouriShCd in Latin
America 1t matters not how much of this
was organized how much Of it could be
related to domestic politics in the various
republics how much of il was disseminated
by foreign traders and concession hunters
tn further their own personal ends. Fears
Of the dominant position held by the United
States in this hemisphere were easily cul-
tivated.
If the actual details of the canal ease
were overlooked. and especially the fact
that were authorized by treaty to pro
tcct tbr Panama railroad by armed force
if necessary. there was nothing uncommon
In the character OF such misrepresentation
In our home affairs dclusion and falsehood
often obscure issues which should logically
he obvious and Cloau-cut.
The treaty with Colombia. now passed
by more than the requisite two thirds ma.
jority in the Senate, is gesture of good
will, and as such il is broader in its scope
than the particular situation out of which
II was born.
1t may surprise some North Americans
TO learn that the Spanish War of 1898 was
not universally accepted by southern neigh
bors as a Sedatve to their feelings of
anxiety. The justice of the cause for which
We took up arms is susceptible of complete
demonstration. None the less, that conflict
a., h, Tptt tnl thN tr.E
Caribbean power. In many parts of Latin
America this result was viewed with an
uncaSincSs which initiated against care
fully reasoned analyses Of fundamentals.
The German drummer who stimulated his
trade with denunciatorv illusions to the
Colossus of the North seldom lacked au
dCnce. Reference TO the manifest des-
tiny of the greatest republic the world has
ever seen provoked shivrrS in Bogota. Val
paraiSo, Buenos Aires and other capitals.
Not all Of the suspicious entertained can
be traced back TO the self interest of com
mrrca visitors In Mexico City there is
monument to the valiant but unavailing
defense of Chapultepcc by the cadets of the
military academy. The sentiments invoked
by this memorial have little to do with the
actual origins OF the war of 1S46-4S between
the tnltcd States and Mexico. The selfish
ambitions of the dictator. Santa Ana, are
forgotten The pathoS Of defeat by vastly
more powerful neighbor beyond the Rio
Grandc remains
The Colombian treaty will be better un-
derstrod in this country when the public
realizes III" enormous value Of sympathy as
mn asset iu international relationships Po.
litical fire eaters and foreign marplots will
lind the task of proving that the policy of
the United States is 10 ride rough shod over
the scnsblites Of her weaker neighbors far
from congenial if the long pending compact
is executed
That contention was false before the
Colombian treaty was passed The point
10 be considered is that under the new
agreement lies will fall on less fertile soil
than formerly
As rhc treaty involves an appropriation
Of money SD OOO, ,O0O-it must be referred
to the House uf Representatives. where
thcr" are prospects Of lively debate The
situation recalls John Jays treaty, which
was long held up in the lower chamber after
n comparatively swift passage in the
Senate.
Nothing thar may b" said however. can
disprove the brncfccnt influence which the
Colombian settlement would exert upon
cordial. unafraid acceptance IT the true
spirit "f the Monroe Doctrine. The treaty,
from which the apology 70 Colombia has
been property deIetcd, l. not even by con
strurtiou n confession Of wrongdoing II
is a repudiation " charges which were 10
less disappearing and vcxatous because un-
founded.
CuUCroSsmcn Will, of course nav" their
>av about the possibilities Of the industrial
and economic development uf Colombia
which th" resumption Of amiCablc relations
with her rich and energetic nCighbor un-
folds II may BE- forecast that the treasury