The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-05
Activitv Il Washington.

Activity IN Washington.
The greatest activity was exhibited
in the state and navy departments this
morning, and there were frequent con-
situations between the officials the
naval officers particularly being intent
in working out the details OF the plan
of projections Of the isthmian traffic out
lined by the state department.
IL is quite evident that the navy is
making preparations Tor larger
squadron in isthmian waters Than il has
made for many years. and the fact is
not disguised that all the information
which has come from the secret agents
points to the ultimate success Of the rev
olution- But meanwhile extremely deli
cate questions are to be answered. for
the occupation Of one end Of the Pan
anna railroad by the government force
and of the other end by the revolution
lists make the situation extremely COM
plicated. That is one reason the con-
ferences are being held, and why it is
desirable that the most exact instruc-
tons possible under the circumstances
shall be sent to our naval commanders
and to the consular officer on the 18TH
mus 20 prevent them from making any
false move that would put the United
States government in a position of vio-
lation Of the treaty stipulations or dis
playing power in derogation of Colon
bias just rights.
Significant Order.
You VIII protect American interests
at all points and do everything possible
to avoid blOodshed," is the substance
Of the dispatch cabled by the navy de-
partment at the instance of the state
department. to the naval commanders
now at the isthmus or on their way.
The last part Of the instructions is par
frrrT clio
more active interpretation by the United
states government in the troubles on
the isthmUs than has perhaps ever be-
fore been. displayed.
These orders were the result Of the
/ conferences that were held at the
White House last night between the
president, Secretary Hay and Assistant
Secretary LOOMS and Acting Secretary
Of the Navy Darling and Admiral Tay-
Tor, chief Of the bureau of navigation
It is not doubted that under the au-
thority thus conferred the naval COM
manders VIII land marines and soldiers
at the railroad terminal. Indeed, it is
not doubted Commander John Hubbard
/ Of the Nashville already has placed q
marine guard ashore at Colon to pro-
tect the property and that the com
mander Of the Boston probably viii
! take the same action when he arrives
/ at Panama.
Ready For Emergency.
With the Atlanta, Dixie and Nash
Vile there viii be a naval force on the
gulf side of the isthmus sufficient TO
meet any prObable emergency. The
presence OF the 400 Colombian govern
ment troops at Colon makes the situa-
/ ton there at present more difficult than
on the Panama side. It is the opinion
| of some Of the officials here, however.
that these troops having been deprived
of their general officers by capture viii
surrender without bloodshed and per-
haps join the revolution. but if the gov
eminent troops hold out and maintain
! possession of Colon it will probably
oblige the United States to take tenn
porary possession Of the railway again
as traffic cannot be maintained with ono
end of the line in possession Of tho
government forces and the other in the
hands of the revolutionists. The effect
of such seizure of the road would beltt
. prevent the movement of any body OF
| troops carrying arms from one side Of
the isthmus to the other. 1t is fOrtu-
nate for the reyolutionists that they
were in practical possession of the
isthmus when the first of the United
States naval forces arrived, for one of
the standing rules of the navy in such
cases is to maintain the statu quo.
question or Recognition.
( The persons who have engineered the
revolution have so far succeeded in con-
cealng The exact measures of their
powers and responsibilities, but last
evening some cabled inquiries came to
the state department from men who
stand very high in the business world
/ of Panama asking if the United States
government would extend recognition TO
| the new state if the present movemert
/ was successful The inquiries did not
come in such form as to justify an Of
/ fetal answer, and IL is Said that IL is
not the policy Of this government 10
commit itself in such cases. The in
variable rule as to recognitions in cases
of revolutions is TO recognize de facto
conditions and if the United States
consular officers at Panama and Colon
report that there is an actual working
government in possession of the 18th
mus they viii be allowed to do business