The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-09
The Panama Incident.

1t is reported from Washington that
the government of the United States
of Colombia has filed protest with
our state department against the ac-
ton of the United States. We have
recognized the de factO government
of the Republic of Panama, strength
ened our naval force at the terminl
of the Panama railway, and given
notice of our purpose to fulfil our
transit-protecting duties under the
treaty of 1916, which involve the pre-
vention of warlike invasion of the
isthmus by any hostile power. .''@
Senator Morgan intends to intro
duce resolutions Of inquiry into the
Panama situation and the action Of
our government, this week. which Will
probably bring about a lengthy dis
cussion. which may, under the rules
Of the senate, be prolonged Indefinite
w Morgan is sustained in his oppo-
sition to the recognition of Panama
by number of democrats who wish
to delay the progress of public bust
ness.
The Frenchman who represents
Panama at Washington as her diplo-
matte agent, declares that the new
republic is fulfilling all the duties of
regular government, and he is ready
to begin canal negotiations as soon
as possible, and he intimates that the
government he represents will I'M
questionably agree to terms perfectly
satisfactory to the United States. The
power which holds the isthmus is
the lawful negotiator. Colombia de-
liberately broke off negotiations, re-
Jected the canal treaty, and her con-
gress adjourned sine die.
Our government has already laid
down rules governing the recognition
Of new republics. Shortly after the
Hawaiian revolution, the subject was
widely discussed and the attitude of
our government was set forth show
Ing that American usage has been to
recognize that as the legal govern
ment Of another nation which, by its
actual exercise of political power
might be supposed to have received
the express or implied assent Of the
b people. This has been the course OF
the United States, notably with ref
erence to the unstable Spanish-Amer-
lean republics. In the case Of Ha.
wall, in 1893. when Cleveland sue.
ceeded Harrison, who had sent g
treaty for the annexation of Hawai-
to the United States to the senate, the
treaty was withdrawn from the sen.
ate and Cleveland sent Mr. BToun
with plenipotential authority, super.
seding Minister Stevens and recogniz
ing I4iluokalani as sovereign queen
on the strength of Blount's report tina
no de facto government had beer
established. The people Of Hawaii
however, or the majority of them, or
ganized provisional government
with Dole for president, and banisheC
the queen and her family, and TIL,
government was soon recognized
In the case of Panama, provi
sional government has been pro
claimed and accepted by the people
has occupied the government build
ings; has assumed political power; hal
seen the troops of the Bogota govern
. l.lment depart. 1t has shown itself ca
pable OF insisting on it's rights ant
fulfilling the duties of it's position
According to International law, Pana
ma is sovereign state; we have re
ceived diplomatic representative
from it,; we have accredited diplo
matte representative to it. Once rec
ognized, Panama is sovereign state
1t is for Panama to decide what i
shall do with this recognition. If i
!. chooses to be under the protection o
the United States under revised ca
nal treaty. it is at liberty so to choose
The United States has before recog
nized provisional governments. as i
the case of Costa Rica in 1868, Franc
In 1870 and Peru in 1881
Our treaty obligations Justify tn
entire action of our government wit