Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-05-05
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Colombia Treaty Ratified by the
Republican Senators With
Reluctance.
MUCH GIVEN, NOTHING ASKED
President Says We VIII FIshtte Main
taIn Monroe Doctrine-Japanese
Cabinet Refuses to Yield on
Yap - Allies Preparing
Further Coercion for
Germany.
By EDWARD W. pIcKARD.


Ratification Of the Colombia treaty,
by a reluctant senate, did not evoke
many loud cheers in the United States.
Democrats for years had urged the
adoption Of the pact as a virtual re-
pudiation of the acts of Theodore
Roosevelt and John Hay in connection
with the separation Of Panama from
Colombia. The Harding administra-
ton urged 1t, not on. that ground, but
because it believed this sop to Colon
bia would help to restore amicable
feelings toward the United States on
the part Of the Latin-American peo-
pies, and also because Americans wish
to develop oil fields in Colombia. All
but four Of the Democratic senators
voted for the treaty, presumably for
their old reasons. Forty Republicans
obeyed the behest of the administra-
ton. most of them because they hesi-
tated to break with it on an important
issue so soon after the beginning Of
Mr.. Harding's regime. Fifteen Repub-
lican senators refused to- turn so
squarely against the policy of their
party and voted against ratification
after putting up a strong fight, In the
course Of which they tried to amend
the pact by provision that nothing in
1t should be regarded as a confession
of wrongdoing by Roosevelt In the ac-
,quisition Of the Canal Zone.
Colombia will new greedily seize
the gifts made her-$25, 100000 and
valuable privileges in the use Of the
Panama canal-and gives practically
nothing in return, not even assurance
Of fair treatment for our capitalists
who may invest In her oil fields. If
most Of the money does not stick to
the palms Of the grating politicians Of
Colombia there will be complete re-
versal Of custom. More important,
there Is little reason to believe this
treaty will lessen the hatred of the
United States which is the prevailing
sentiment throughout most Of Latin
America. This statement is based on
the opinions Of men who are thor
oughly familiar with the Latin-Amer-
leans.
In pursuance Of his policy Of con.
ciliation President Harding delivered
a happy address on Tuesday on the oc-
casion Of the unveiling, in New York,
of statue Of Bolivar the Liberator.
The day was the anniversary Of both
the Battle Of Lexington and the open
ing Of the final campaign which re-
suited in the independence of Vene-
zuela. Naturally the Monroe doctrine
was the subject Of the main part Of
the Presidents speech, and Of it he
said:
"The doctrine proclaimed under
Monroe, which ever since has been
jealously guarded as a fundamental
Of our own republic, maintained that
these continents should not again be
regarded as fields for the colonial en-
terprises Of old world powers.
There have been times when the
meaning OF Monroeism was misunder-
stood by some, perverted by others,
and made the subject of distorting
propaganda by those who saw In 1t an
obstacle to their own ambitions.
"The history of the generations
since that doctrine was proclaimed
has proved we never intended 1t self.
ishly; that we had no dream Of ex-
ploitation.
ION the other side, the history OF
the last decade certainly must have
convinced all the world that we stand
willing to fight, II necessary, to pro
tect these continents, these sturdy