While political factions have continued to resort to arms for the settlement of differences of opinion within the nation's boundaries, the better sentiment of an increasing class of educated people has begun to make itself felt in the disputes with neighboring republics touching the location of those boundaries. Arbitration has repeatedly taken the place of foreign wars. An agreement was made 15 Dec. 1894 for submitting to arbitration the question a.s to the southern line between Colombia and Ecuador and Peru. President Loubet of France acted as arbitrator of the boundary dispute with Costa Rica, rendering a decision 11 Sept. 1900.
In recognition of difficult questions that had arisen, and in anticipation of those that might arise out of Panama's secession from Colom bia and the creation of the Panama Canal Zone, Secretary Taft effected (17 Aug. 1907) an agreement between representatives of Colom bia, Panama and the United States. This agree ment was general in its scope, and particular applications of its main principle were observed, both at the end of the year 1908, when ne gotiations between Colombia and Panarna reached an advanced stage, and at the beginning of 1909, when a treaty between the United States, Panama and Colombia was signed. Hostility was manifested in Colombia to that portion of the treaty which exonerated the United States and Panama from the charge of injustice to Colombia in the matter and manner of Panama's secession. Thereupon. President Reyes tendered his resignation, and his suc cessor, President Valencia, advocated the refer ence to The Hague of that question and also of the question as to indemnity for the aliena tion of Colombia's most famous and valuable department. The following year (1910) saw riotous demonstration of the anti-Arnerican feeling in Bogota, for which an apology was offered to the Minister of the United States. On 20,July the centennial anniversary of Colom bia's independence was celebrated. In 1911 terntory claimed by Colombia as a portion of her southern domain was occupied by Peruvian troops. A battle was fought there, and the Colombians were defeated. In 1913 the pro posed development of. the petroleum industry in Colombia by a British syndicate aroused op position in the United States. The liberality of the terms was construed as the grant nf a monopoly, and the proposals were with drawn. For an explanatory ieference to Colombian oil-fields, see section Banking and Finance. On 4 Nov. 1913 the Congress at Bogota adopted a resolution affirming Colombia's isthmian rights, 10 years having passed since the severe loss had been sustained.
Don Jose Vicente Concha (clerical-conserva tive) became President in 1914. During that year there was °no little satisfaction at the prospect of receiving, under a pending treaty, $25,000,000 (from the United States) and of acquiring special privileges in respect to the Panama Canal. Talcing advantage of the pre sumably more favorable spirit which the treaty had created in Colombia, an American
Government, Some of the amendments to the constitution adopted by legislative Act number 3 of 1910 were: The legislature shall in no case prescribe the penalty of capital pun ishment; new emissions of paper money of compulsory circulation are absolutely pro hibited; and the Congress shall annually elect two designates, a first and a second, who shall exercise the executive power in that order in case of a vacancy in the presidency. The Senate shall be composed of as many members as correspond to the population of the republic in the ratio of one for each 120,000 inhabitants and two substitutes shall be elected for each senator. The Chamber of Repntsentatives shall be composed of one representative for each 50,000 inhabitants. The President' of the re public is elected by direct vote, for a term of ;1,.. four years. In case of foreign war or civil disturbance he, with the signature of all the ministers, may declare public order disturbed and the republic or any part thereof to be in a state of siege. By such a declaration the government has, in addition to t4 powers con ferred by the laws, such powers. govern war between nations pursuant t4ehe accepted rules of international law.