The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-11-20
AN uNTRuTHFUL APPEAL.

AN UNTRUTHFUL APPEAL.
In presenting their case against the
government of this country to Great
Britain, Colombia and the democratic
editors of the United States make
allegations that the facts do not bear
out. Their charge that the admins
tration at Washington assisted and
encouraged the Panamans in the sue
cessful secession they Unanswered is
not supported by testimony.
The people of the isthmus seeded
because they felt they had a just
and reason. When the Bogotan gov
eminent refused to ratify the canal
treaty and failed to give any mani
festation of future intention in that
direction Panama concluded that the
time to act had arrived. To it COM
pletion of a canal across the narrow
neck of land means existence itself.
This it's people have long since recog-
nized, hence their determination to
secure it, with the consent of Colon
bia, without if necessary. That con-
sent having been withheld, they set
themselves up as an independent
nation and have been recognized as
such by this and other sovereign pow
ers. Ample notice of their intentions
had been given to Bogota and the
rest of the world and only the inherent
propensity for graft" prompted the
Bogotans to ignore the notice. To
them the proposed canal was only
a means of money making by holding
up the United States as a highway
man would an individual. The manner
in which they treated it showed this.
AS to the other charge, that the
United States prevented Colombia
from asserting it's sovereignty to the
extent of compelling the Panama Sc
ceders to recognize its governmental
authority over them, it Dis equally
diaphanous. Truth is that as soon
as Panama proclaimed its indepen-
dence the representatives of the Co
government withdrew from
the isthmus, all except those that
the revolutionists. By their
withdrawal the revolutionary govern
ment became de facto and the only
one existing there. No demand was
made by the United States that Colon
bia remove it's troops from Panama,
neither did the United States order
away any of the civil representatives
of Colombia's authority. After the
Colombians had voluntarily Withdrawn
and left the Panamans in full posses
sion and the latter had been recog-
nized by this government it became a
of duty for the United States
under the much discussed treaty OF
1916 to prevent invasion of the new
state in order that traffic across the
isthmus might not be interfered with.
To have permitted Colombia to come
back with it's troops would have meant
serious disturbance and a likelihood
of interference with the freedom OF
transit across the isthmus and a de-
mand by the other powers of the world
that this government fulfill it's treaty.
obligations and see to it that their
commerce did not suffer.
The allegation of the Colombians
and their democratic allies in the
United States that by the treaty OF
1916 this government obligates itself
to assist in maintaining Colombia's
sovereignty over Panama is on a par
with the others. This construction
is not tenable. What this government
solemnly promised to do was to pre-
vent foreign invasion or interference
With Colombian sovereignty. This it
has always done and will undoubtedly
continue to do so. 1t did not pledge