The sun., 1895-03-25
BOUND TO PROTECT co1oMBI4.
A Treaty by which the Unlted States Guar
snteed the Neutrality or the Isthmus.

a Treaty by which the Unlted States Guar.
sntesd the Neutrality or the Isthmus.
WARRINGTON, March 24.-Rear Admiral
Jouett, in an interview published to-day. calls
attention to the fact that by treaty with New
Grenada (now the United States Of Colombia),
Inado in lS4G. the United States of America
guaranteed not only the perfect Neutrality of
tho Isthmus of Panama, but the rights. prop
erty, and sovereignty which Colombia may have
and possess over the Istb.nus.
II don't know how such treaty came to be
made" he said.
AT that time California was to us an undis-
covered country, and there was certainly no
railroad across the Isthmus. Yet for no reason
except from prophetic point of Wow, tho
United States was made responsible for the neu-
trality Of the Isthmus and for tho preservation
ofColombia from invasion"
To show that the treaty means what It says
and that the United States are or have been
willing to carry out its terms the Admiral re-
called the following incident in tho diplomatic
history of the Government and his own experi-
ence:
I'm 1885 received telegraphIc orders to leave
Now Orleans and proceed ut once to Colon,
whore tho revolutionists had destroyed millions
Of dollars worth Of property. mostly American,
and had closed the railroad making transit
across the Isthmus impossible. When reached
ln-
formed by Mr.. Burt, the Superintendent that 1t
would remain. closed until the United States
forces would guarantee TO keep it open. gave
notice that at o'clock on the following day, II
he would have his engines and cars ready I
would see that train was started and conveyed
across the Isthmus. He was on hand and SO was I.
The United States had four ships there and near
ly q thousand men. We landed our men, opened
the railroad, and we kept 1t open for four
months. In that case We dealt with revolution
and had made tho same appeal to US is a as" aae",
have to meet any day. SO long as the Vt trsaey sy
stands. And the most remarkable thing about
aware s IN the the Pansms 50 rar .nr
single rail-. The entire concern is in the hands
antee that il shall not be interfered With by any
nation. Tho possibilities for complications and
troubles oyer tho existence of the treaty are
Discussing the situation in Nicaragua. Ad:
agreed to protect any line OF inter-ooeanic com.
munication across that country. and guarantee
m ana use But such
cases were not exactly parallel. "The United
st.tss," he thought. could hardly interfere
set a precedent by bombarding Graytown in
session Of the Custom House at Graytown the
act would not be without precedent although,
In that case VIC would have to he very watchfui
TO see that tho camel, after putting his nose in
At the window. did not enter with his whole
The Admiral expressed the opinion that no
trouble would come OF the Alliance incident,
because II the circumstances surrounding the
vessel. There 10 a rebellion in Cuba" he said.
"A Spanish gunboat was policing the shores OF
CUBA directly contiguous to the province which
Is In insurrection. This is the duty OF a navy
When the gunboat evidenced a desire TO speak
her and firing lee gun, which is a friendly sig-
nal, the merchantmen should have stopped to
learn h ~ meaning OF the inquiry. The polite.
Spanish commander might have been In dis
tress, or have had some passengers whom he
wished 10 transfer. or he might have had i'm
portAnt mail which he desired To forward 10 the
United states. When was on the sea and was
spoken stopped, and expected other ships to
do the same Tor ne"