New-York tribune., 1921-03-09
Senate Opposition to Treaty
Giving $25, 900, 900 to
Republic Is Bitter aud
May Stop Ratification
Lodge to Fight for Pact
Former Foe of Plan Urges
President to Send Spe-
cial Message to Aid 1t
By Carter Field

question or foreign relations. The
slouble is over tho Colombian treaty,
which Mr.. Harding wants ratified but
which a determined and vocal group in
the Senate s. determined shall never
be ratified,
Republican Leader Lodge called at
the White House to-day TO tell the
President the difficulties in the path.
The Massachusetts Senator insisted
that the President should send spe-
cisl message to the Senate if he were
anxious that the treaty be ratified, so
that the measure could be given an au-
thentic Administration stamp.
Whether Mr. Harding will send such
message to the Senate was not known
tonight. On the contrary, interest
centers chiefly on whether. finding such
determined opposition, the President
don the effort
There are several complications
which might easily persuade the Presi-
dent that discretion is the better part
Of vslor. For one thing, what might
be called the historic Republican po-
sition is of opposition to this treaty,
Under which this government would
pay Colombia s25, ,0UJ, 900 anl grant her
in addition several concessions such
as permitting her troops and war sup
plies TO move through the canal tolls
Tree, permitting her mails to go
through at cost and permitting her TO
use the Panama Railroad at cost dur
ing any interference with navigation
Of the canal.
Roosevelt Friends Oppose
Ratification OF the treaty would be
regarded by many friends OF the late
Theodore Roosevelt as blow 10 his
memory. on the theory that any pay
ment a. all to Colombia wuld be in a
way an admission that this government
had done Colombia a wrong IN the
Panama Canal incident, on which, Of
course. the treaty is based
The original treaty, as negotiated by
William Jennings Bryan in 1914, con
.ained q frank apology FOR this govern
men.s part in the Panama revolution
Al that time IL aroused storm OF pro-
test, and. despite the tremendous pres
tge Of wilson with Congress az that
,me- he was never able TO force ratj-
iica-lon.
Several years later. when the Senate
forei gn Relations Committee reported
the treaty tavorably. the Republican
minority report stated:
We cannot afford 20 purchase cor
dial relations with any country. We
ri hla
demand. Once respond to such de-
nand and We shall be held for every
ianc;ed wrong by other countries"
This statement. with other attacks
on the treaty, was signed by Senator
Lodge, who now as q question of 10y
atty 70 the Administration is willing
TO lead the fight for ratification. Other
signers We're Brandegee, Fall. who as
Mr. Fardings Secretary Of the Inte-
r.or is now heartily in favor OF ratif-
cation, McCumber, Borah and Knox
The aeE VINO are fighting the treaty
to-dag charge that the change Of front
las been brought about by the infu-
cnce Of those Americans interested in
Gil concessions in Colombia They say
tia, the payment Of the $4,000, 900 and
the other co1ces sslons are Just as much
az admission of guilty conscience, and
are just as much a reflection on the
memory OF Theodore Roosevelt, as
though the apology were written into
the treaty in Mr.. Bryan's original Ian
guage.
II 1919, when the treaty was again
under consideration. control of the
Senate and the Foreign Relations Com
mltyee having in the meantime passed
into The hands of the Republicans. the
question Of protecting American oil in
terests came up ana an amendment to
the treaty was proposed by Senator
rail-, ROW Secretary of the Interior
with view to protecting American
oil interests IN that country. Later
It was decided that the Colombian gov
ernment had met the situation properly
and that there was no necessity for
this amendment
Progressives Plan Fight
What might be called the progress
siVe group Of Senators has been delv-
ins hack into the records, with a view
to making it as unpleasant as possible
tor treaty advocates when the battle
treaty. Senator Borah, Of Idaho, will
lead the oratory for the ants. The
preliminary battle will be to have the
ratlhcation debate in open session
Ihis, II successful. would permit all
klnds OF charges that certain people
changed ground because Of theil
friendship for the oil interests to be
made on the floor of the Senate, and
to be printed without fear of libel il
every newspaper in the United States.
Administration leaders have been
counting noses, and they are not sure
o. the necessary thirds majority
tor the treaty. unless Mr.. Harding, BY
special message, makes approval OF
me treaty an Administration PROPOSE
ton. But, even with special mes
sage, there is no assurance that the
treaty can be forced to a vote.
Among the Senators who already
nave signified that they intend to fight
vigorously against the treaty are
tborah, Kellogg, Poindexter, Kenyon
sorris, La Toilette and Hiram John.
son.
1t was announced at the State De-
'artment to-day that Hoffman Philip
Alnister Of the United States to Co.
iombla, has returned temporarily tc
Washington, under instructions from
the State Department, to provide in
formation on affairs in Colombia and
70 assist in matters relating to the
colombian treaty.