New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-07
Col. ROOsevelt's
Letters Assail
Colombia Pact
I'll Gives Correspondence
With Colonel i'll Last Days
of His Life, Showing Him
Firm A 8 a inst Treaty
Aids Senate Opposition
lash Payment, That Has
Been Termed sBlackmail.'
Was What He Opposed

hanged between IheCdOre Roosevelt
and Albert B. Fall in the last year OF
the Colonel's life, made public to-day
show conclusively tbat he never fall
tered in his opposition to treaty with
Colombia under which money would be
Maid that country. These letters flatly
contradict rumor recently given wide
circulation that in his last days Mr..
Roosevelt urged ratification of the Co.
lombisn treaty.
Senator's now engaged in fighting what
has been called, by report of the
senate's Foreign Relations Committee,
"blackmail" were delighted that in
stead Of advocating this treaty, on
which the Senate is to vote eight days
after the opening of the next session,
Mr.. Roosevelt urged the negotiation Of
a new and proper treaty"
Against Any Payment
Former President Roosevelt took the
position that he desired the friendship
Of the South American republic, but
he made plain that the treaty should
be confined solely to the questions of
commerce, amity and neutrality, with
no stipulation for any monetary con-
siderstion for Colombia.
The correspondence was initiated by
Mr.. Fall. who wrote to Colonel Roose-
welt under date of March IS, 1917, as
follows:
II am taking the liberty OF inclosing
YOU copy of a statement of my posi-
ton upon and the reasons for my OPP
position to the Colombian treaty as
proposed.
ii have been almost directly in com
munication with those close to the
Colombian government, and am inclined
TO think that a treaty advantageous to
the United States could be negotiated
at an early date.
ALLOW ME to call your attention to
the last two pages of this statement,
in which I set forth my views as to
treaty to be negotiated supersedin. the
old treaty Of 1916, etc.
"The Colombian Embassy will have
to-day copy OF this statement, and
| know that the propositions contained
mitted to the Colombian governmen Mt
| have suggested that the Colombian
government itself approach this gov
eminent upon the theory that the old
treaty of '45 with Granada is inap-
plicable in many respects and that q
new treaty of commerce, amity, neu-
trality, etc, should be negotiated, and
the distinct provisions which l have
referred to should be incorporated.
You will note that I Insist that no
special favors discriminatory in char
acter should be granted to Colombia for
transit through the canal, except upon
special agreements that we shall defend
Colombia's neutrality, using her ports,
etc, in event Of wsr between this and
any other country.
If Colombia adopts this last PROPOSE
tion then we should be able to nego-
tiate treaties with the other Latin
American countries along identical
lines, and by this means indirectly
through their adherence to the Monroe
Doctrine.
No Special Agreements
Il am not in favor of any treaties
binding US any more closely to the
Latin American countries than would
be done along the lines Of the general
agreement as to neutrality, with spe-
cliic reciprocal agreements along the
lines suggested to Colombia.
IF you have time | would be very
much gratitied to have your views upon
me subject of this statement and the
Propositions contained in the last two
pages, so that | may be prepared to act
In accordance with your suggestion
when return to Washington, about
the 10th of April"
In his reply to Senator Fall Colonel
Roosevelt said:
In the first place, congratulate you
upon your offer to the Secretary of
war. | inclose you a copy of tele-
gram l sent him on March 10; it is my
third offer. l can't see how we can
much longer avoid action.
Approves His Position.
!, greatly liked your statement about
yhe Colombian treaty. 1t is very strong.
J. OF course, most earnestly hope that
your negotiations for a new and proper
treaty VIII be successful. The PROPOSE
.lon on the last two pages seems to mo
10 De emlnently right. I feel exactly
a a you do about the type of treaty we
should have with these Latin American
~oui1fies. Root takes substantially
;oul view. lie is going down to Wash
.ns'on' understand, not long hence,
ana | think that it would be we'll for
lou keep in touch with Lodge and
!Ncliogg' do YOU not? If some such
a ueaty as you suggest could be negoti-
@oeu II would be capital thing. 1t
lens Zen, 10 mo that Lodge and Kellogg
voulu nelp You work it cut They feel
scry strongly that the Administration
-" 10y eet through new treaty, if some
% 'ne objectionable matter is climinat-
W., anu OF course, | would have much
rae!erred some kind of treaty that was
s'ou enough to warrant our supporting
r.mas would be eminently the case if
'our suggestion were adopted"
10 Be Used in Debate
80 me IN. letters will be used by opponents
~. VI ehe colombian treaty, which will be
'.a. up by the Senate for ratification
when 1t meets next week. A point will
mac mat neither Colonel Roosevelt
y VOL Mr' ran approved of any such, con-
v tI'ion as the present pact, which pro-
c'Tes Tor the payment of s25.000,O 900 to
,G;o,oilpia as indemnity for the utiliza-
pa en VI colombian territory for the
fanama Canal
ne statement to which both writers
refer related entirely to treaty of
ovmsmerce, amity and navigation, with
t; ~. Hentlon OF any money considera-
;;.oh, which could be utilized as a model
A. making treaties with other Latin
nnerican nations. This treaty ex-
tt.essiy stipulated that no discrimina-
s Ky oenehts IN the canal. or otherwise,
'H0oio be accorded to Colombia.
GERMANY Hoa d. noCn:x