Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-16
Which Lead United States to
Act on the tsthmus.
Have Not cesired to Annex and Do
Not Intend to Do So.
But Rights and Privileges Of Thi.
Hemisphere Needed Protection.

| ant secretary OF state OF the Onlted
States, and NJ. PHILIPPE Bunau-Varilla
! minister for Panama. Mr.. Looms said:
| We have not desired to annex Pan
anna and we have not done so. The
| President simply executed the will OF
| the American people, with due regard
to international law and rights. He
was instructed by Congress to secure
the canal route on the isthmus of Pam
anna if possible. He waited until the
adjournment of the Colombian Con-
greSs, and gave the government of that
country every opportunity to ratify
the treaty or to propose some proper
method looking to the ratification of
a new treaty, and the Colombian Con-
gress, i'll utter bad faith. rejected the
treaty and adjourned.
IN less than a weeks time, and be-
| fore the President could be reasonably
ton of the Nicaragua route the long
expected and inevitable revolution in
Panama came to pass: the people
arose as one man. and, in thorough
accord without the firing of single
shot, unresisted, they quietly .estab
lished il government of their own.
They had thrice been independent ana
the right of secession was. I believe,
expressly stipulated in some of their
constitutions.
The President directed our meagre
naval force ashore, consisting of 40
marines. to do what they could to pre-
serve order peace and unimpeded
transit across the isthnus. He prompt
~ recognized the de facto government
as soon as he learned that it was in
peaceful possession of the country. We
have on many occasions recognized
new governments with an equal degree
Of celebrity and promptneSs. Later the
republic Of Panama was given full
recognition. We are acting fairly and
lawfully under the treaty of 1916. The
administration. l am sure, has no apol-
ogieS TO offer for its course.
I'VE have carried out the letter and
spirit of our part of the treaty; we
have performed generously and faith
fully all of the duties laid upon us, and
at times greatly to our disadvantage
and very great cost. Colombia on the
other hand seems to have shirked most
OF her obligations.
The rejection Of the treaty at Bogota
was an unfriendly act from the view
point of international law. 1t became
evident shortly after the opening of
the Colombian Congress in June, that
there was not the least intention of
ratifying the Hay Herran treaty. The
belief seems to have been widely cur
rent Iii Eogota, that the United States
could not or would build canal by any
other than the Panama route. 1t Oc-
curred to certain men in Bogota that
the United States could be made to
pay $4,000, Geo or S25.000000. instead of
SIG, 600. 900 or better still as has been
disclosed by recent published official
correspondence if the treaty were re-
jeCted. or no action taken upon it. and
the whole matter postponed for another
year the concession of the present
French Canal Company having expired
by that time the renewal of that con-
cession would be declared invalid and
al the rights, privile ges and work of
the French Canal Co. be practically
coniscated and disposed of to the
United states for $40 900. DOC, in addition
to the $l0,GC0,G00 as proposed and the
prospect and the temptation proved too
strong.
"Out Of these possibilities came one
of ouf strongest needs for prompt and
courageous action when the opportu-
nifty was offered by the revolution in
Panama on Nov. 8.
Il may safely assert. without fear of
contradiction by any we'll informed
person that the government of France
would not have stood serenely by and
witnessed the pillage of thousands OF
her people through the act which
Bogora politicians devised for the loot
ing of the French company of $4,000
00e
The moment that the cables flashed
from Bogota to Paris the astounding news
that the extension of the French conces-
sion was cancelled. a French squadron
from Martinique would have borne down
upon the iSthmus and perhaps landed ma
riras at Colon and sent them across The
,lsthmus to Panama and along the line of
tllc canal TO protect the interests and
property of French citizens. There would
III al probability have been an armed
conflict between France and Colombia or
France at least would have felt herself
compelled to hold the isthmus for long
period This would have wrought imme
di5tciy and poignantly upon the SENSIBLE
ltics OF the American people in respect
to the Monroe Doctrine and we should
no doubt have found ourselves viewing
. France with annoying apprehension.
The situation which | have described
! fraGght with real and momentois dan
gers. furnished one of the very serious
possibilities which the administration had
to reckon with in dealing with the revolu-
ton in Panama. When you keenly grasp
the fun sense of imminent danger Of for
eign complications which confronted the
President and the plainly radiant truth
/ that no justice. generosity, fair dealing
or business like consideration could be
obtained from Colombia. and when you
consider further our obligations under the
treaty of 1916 and the opportunity at
/ forded to put an end to the long series of
saHguinary and enfeebling revolutions
which nave wasted the resources and ar
| rested the progress of the isthmus; when
you recall Colombia's dog in the man
ger attitude and the salient. dangerous
pressing eYigancies Of the situation which
confronted this government upon the
night of Nov. 3. | think YOU may we'll be
glad that there was in Washington upon
! this truly Hateful year a man who pos
sess:ed the insight. the knowledge, the
spirit and the courage to seize the oppor
! tunity To strike a blow the results OF
| which can be fraught only with peace and