Evening star., 1930-12-07
in LATIN AMERICA
By CASTON NERVAL.

president Of Colombia. Senior Olaya
ha a.. for eight years been the diplomatic
representative Of his country in Wash
ington. He had been In close contact
with Colombian American problems,
and knew that lack of understanding
OF the viewpoints of each other was the
main obstacle. He had the great ad-
vantage Of knowing American people
and really understanding them. And
being a Colombian, he also knew the
point Of view Of his people. Senior
Olaya was, then, in a privileged posi-
ton to bring both sides to an amicable
understanding.
That he intended TO do 50 was clearly
shown when he made this one Of the
outstanding items Of his electoral cam
paign. 1t has even been said that he
ran on q pro-American platform, for
in all his principal speeches he en-
phaSized the Importance and the bene-
I'fltS Of mutual cooperation between Co
! lombian and American interests. In
spite Of that ill-intentioned propaganda
against American imperialism" which
had been encouraged by the oil contro-
versy, Senor Olaya was careful to ex-
plain to his compatriots how unfortu-
nately they were mistaken about the
intentions OF American investors, and
how simple and advantageous 1t would
be for all to reach q happy medium
where the interests of both parties could
| work together to relieve the critical eco
nomic conditions of Colombia. That he
succeeded in convincing them was dem
onStrated by the poll returns, where
Senor Olaya obtained an unparalleled
majority over his political rivals And
1t Is even further proven by the favor
able way in which Colombian public
opinion in general has been viewing the
Presidents efforts to complete that
closer approach to the great colossus
of the North" since he was inaugu-
rated on August Z.
The mental attitude Of the people
having BEEN changed, today it is posi-
BILE for President Olaya Herrera TO sub
nit to Congress oil legislation which
favorS and protects American invest
mentS without impairing the rights Of
the Colombian Government or depriv-
| ing 1t of the benefits to which 1t Is
entitled.
NOTHING TO FEAR.
The policy Of President Olaya on the
| oil problem which he considers the pre-
eminent one before his administration
is clearly expressed in his message to
Congress when he says:
"The government Is convinced that
the time has come for the oil resources
of the country to cease being mere
| potentiality, and instead to be incor-
| porated into Colombian economics, to
| become q source of remuneration for
the state and the individual. To make
thi possible Congress must pass a law
that will satisfy not only the legiti-
mate rights of the nation and its Just
aspirations, but also those Of the indi-
! vidual or corporation which wishes to
develop the riches that our soil con-
| tains. 1t Is essential that this law be
inspired on the principle Of sincere CO.
| operation, mutual benefit and entire good
faith, and that it guarantee equally
| Colombian rights and the legitimate in
terests Of capital.
I'VE prefer friendly and just accord
to sterile legislation, and we believe
that our oil resources can be q source
Of intelligent financing, which, while
! protecting the nations interests, will
permit the development which the
country justly demands and to which
is linked the wellbeing of its citizens,
the realization of national entity and
the present and the future Of the
| state"
Furthermore, through the minister
of industries, the Colombian govern
ment made the following statement in
recent session of the House Of Repre-
sentatives in Bogota:
THE government holds that 1t Is
indispensable to good administration, to
the strengthening of the national credit
and TO the retention of prestige and
public faith 10 fulfill strictly the con-
tracts entered into by the government.
THE government proposes to be zeal
Gus in the fulfillment of the obligations
which by reason of its contracts fall to
the state to fulfill, and believes that this
line of conduct will be appreciated by
Colombian citizens, by other nations,
and by the contracting parties, what
ever their nationalities, and 1t will use
all Its authority and moral force to de-
mand in its turn in all cases q rigorous
and faithful ful1llment Of the obliga-
tions which are the contracting party's.
National contracts before being
closed must be studied most carefully in
all their legal aspects and with regard
to the public good by the authorities to
whom the state confldes its interests
in each case, but once a contract Is
signed the state must comply faithfully
with the obligations contracted by those
who may represent it at given mo-
ment
| "The government desires to give to