Passage 3 Relations between the United States and Colombia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the SpanishAmerican War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice. In order to build the canal, the United States had to negotiate (谈判) a treaty with Colombia, which at that time controlled Panama. Roosevelt offered Colombia $10 million plus $250,000 a year for 99 years for a sixmilewide strip of land across Panama. Colombia rejected the United States offer. This angered President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Colombia ended. In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Colombian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Colombia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal. As a result of the incident, Colombia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Colombia some compensation (赔偿,补偿) for its lost territory, did relations between the two countries improve.