[Inclosure—Translation.]
Treaties of Colombia with Panama and the United
States.
El Neuvo Tiempo, February 12, 1909.
Favorable stipulations toward Colombian-Convocation
of the national assembly—To reunite February 22—To discuss the
treaties and the budget of revenues and expenses.
As our readers are already aware, from the reproduction made
yesterday of an article from the Panaman periodical, La Estrella, of
some of the bases of the treaties which our minister in Washington
signed with the representatives of Panama and of the United
States—
In addition to the stipulations mentioned by La Estrella, we
understand on good authority, that in the treaties in question there
appear the following conditions, which are more favorable to
Colombia than those contained in the Herrán-Hay treaty:
The isthmian railroad will carry members of the Colombian Army, army
provisions, mails, etc., under the same conditions as stipulated by
Panama with the United States;
The salt from the national salt mines on the Atlantic will be
transported free, with no other encumbrance than the wastes of
loading and unloading. This concession is of great importance, as on
account of the same the ocean salt of our country will be used in
place of foreign salt. In this manner the hundreds of thousands of
pesos, gold, going out of the country to pay for foreign salt
consumed in the departments of the Pacific will be stopped:
Colombia is conceded the right to enter the Canal Zone with such of
her products, as provisions, fatted cattle, etc., for consumption,
under the same conditions as the products of the United States. This
concession promises for our agricultural industries and the welfare
of our shores on both oceans—especially for the farmers of the
Atlantic coast—a benefit worth thousands of pesos, gold, annually in
the exportation of fatted cattle only, which exportation, as we all
know, has ended with great detriment, owing to the fact that the
markets of Cuba and of the Isthmus imposed a duty of 15 pesos, gold,
on each head of fatted cattle;
Further, the treaty concedes to us the free passage of the canal—free
of all taxes for the navy of our country, whether in case of
interior or exterior wars;
Upon guaranty of the United States, Panama will pay to Colombia
$2,500,000, corresponding to its participation in the foreign debt;
and
The boundaries will be the same as those determined by the law of the
9th of June, 1855.
All these concessions are of such importance and magnitude that we
have to recognize that the American Government has made an effort to
give us satisfaction for the injustices committed against Colombia,
and of which the diplomatic mission—of which the actual President of
Colombia was chief—claimed, in the well-known note of grievance
which to-day is placed in the right before the eyes of the civilized
world.
In our yesterday’s edition we gave space to a letter addressed to the
Herald by the well-known American professor, Hamilton Rice, in which
he recognized the unjust manner in which Colombia was treated, and
with grand altruistic spirit advised his country that they give
satisfaction enforcing the principles of equity, a satisfaction
which must correspond to the greatness of the American people.
[Page 363]
The council of ministers, in its session of yesterday, convoked the
national assembly to extraordinary sessions, which will reunite on
the 22d instant to consider, in addition to the budget of revenues
and expenses of the present year, the treaties in question. We
understand that they have already been approved by the Assembly of
Panama, and judging by cable advices they will also be approved by
the American Senate, which at present is discussing them.
Our minister in Washington was not mistaken when he reported to our
minister for foreign affairs the generosity of these treaties, a
fact which has been recognized by the sort of plebiscite which has
begun in this country regarding this important question. By
telegrams, which we have published in this periodical from several
parts of the Republic, it will be seen that public opinion is
unanimous in approbation.
