The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-25
poss1Bi, Irrns py,,aluo US.
Admiral Jouett TAiks of the Troubles a
Colombia.

| Admiral Jouett Tdiks of the Troubles
Colombia.
| Washington, March 24.-Rear Ad'
miral Jouett, in an interview published
to-day. called attention to the fact
that by treaty with New Grenada
| made in 1S46 the United States guaran-
| teeed not only the perfectneutralfty OF
| the isthmus of Panama, but also the
! rights, property and sovereignty which
Colombia might have and possesses
over the isthmus.
II do not know how such a treaty
came to be made" he said, yet the
United States was made responsible
| for the neutralitySof the isthmus and
for the preservation Of Colombia from
| invasion"
The admiral stated that in 1885 he
was ordered to Colon where the revolu-
tlonists had destroyed much property,
and had closed the railroad. He landed
men from the vessels of his feet, open
ed the road and kept 1t open for four
months.
"In that case" said the admiral, 1--WE
dealth with revolutionary forces. What
would have been the result if Colombia
had been at war with a European ma
tlon and had made some appeal to us
is question. 1t is, however, a question
which we may have to meet any day,
so long as the treaty stands. And the
most remarkable thing about it is that
the United States is not to-day so far
as l am aware, interested in the Pan
anna railroad in pecuniary sense, to the
extent Of rail. The entire concern is
in the hands of the French. The pos
sibilities for complications and trou-
b1es over the existing treaty are enor-
nous"
Discussing the situation in Nicaragua
Admiral Jouett said that the United
States had agreed to protect any line
of inter-oceanic communication across
that country and guarantee it's neutral
ity and innocent use. But no such route
had been opened in Nicaragua, and the
cases were not exactly parallel. The
United States, he thought, could hardly
interfere with Great Britain in an effort
to collect damages under just claim
for we have ourselves set a precedent
by bombarding Greytown in 1858. Even
if GJeat Britain should take possession
of the custom house at Greytown the
act would not be without precedent
although in that case we would have
to be very watchfu to see that the
camel after putting his nose in at the
window did not enter with his whole
body"
The admiral expressed the opinion
that NO trouble would come of the ALI
anca incident, because, if the circum-
stances surrounding the affair were as
related, no wrong was done the vessel.
There is a rebellion In Cuba" he
said "A Spanish gunboat was policing
the shores of Cuba directly continuous
to the province which ts in insurrection. |
This lis the duty of a navy. When the |
gunboat evidenced g, desire to speak the |
AElianca by hoisting colors, steaming |
toward her and firing lee gun, which |
is friendly signal, the merchantmen |
should have stopped to learn the mean
ing of the inquiry. The politeness of |
the sea. demanded this courtesy. The |
Spanish commander might have been
IN distress or might have had some |
passengers whom he wished to transfer,
Jr he might have had important mail
which he desired to forward to- the Unit
ID States. When was on the SEA- and
vas spoken 1 stopped and I expected
,ther ships to do the same for me-"