The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-19
LOOMS ON PANAMA
Assistant Secretary of State Says
President Executed Peoples Will.
DISCUSSES CONDITIONS THERE
Declares Colombia Rejected Canal
Treaty to Loot French Company OF
$4OO0o,Oo0, and Had They Succeeded
War Would Have Followed.

Treaty to Loot French Company OF
$4O,OOo,OO0, and Had They Succeeded
War Would Have Followed.
New York. Dee. 16.-Tbo conditions
which resulted in the recent establish
ment OF the Republic OF Panama were
discussed at the banquet of the Quill
Club. held at the Hotel Manhattan. by
Francis b. LOOMS, assistant secretary
OF state of the United States, and NJ.
Philippe BunauVarilla, minister for
Panama The Rev. Z. 5. Triple. ID.
president Of the club, presided. and
among those present were Albert
Shaw. editor OF the Review OF Reviews,
and President Frissell. of the Hampton
Institute.
Assistant Secretary LOOMS, in
pressing his views on Panama, said
in part:
1--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
10 International law and rights. He
was instructed by congress to secure
a canal route on the lsthmus Of Pana-
ma. If possible. He waited until the
adjournment OF the Colombian con-
gress. and gave the government OF that
country every opportunity 20 ratisy
the treaty or to propose some proper
method looking TO the ratification OF a
new treaty. and the Colombian con-
gress. in utter bad faith rejected the
treaty and adjourned.
"1n less than weeks time, and be
fore the president could be reason
ably expected to turn TO grave cOnsid-
Grafton OF the Nicaragua route, the
long-expected and inevitable revolu-
ton In Panama came 20 pass, the
people arose as one man and, in thor
ough accord, without the firing Of q
single shot. unresisted they quietly
established a government Of their own.
They had thrice been independent and
the right Of secession was, / believe.
expressly stipulated In some Of their
constitutions.
'HThe rejection Of the treaty at 30
gotta was an unfriendly act from the
viewpoint OF international law. Co
lombia appealed 70 us 10 enter into a
treaty 10 build a canal, the treaty was
negotiated with her in a most liberal
spirit on our part. and was then re-
jected by the Colombian government
and congress without debate. II be-
came evident. shortly after the open
ing OF the Colombian congress in June,
that there was not the least intention
Of ratifying the Hay-Herran treaty.
The belief seems 10 have been widely
current In BOgOta that the United
States could not or would not build a
canal by any other than the Panama
route. Il occurred 10 certain men in
Bogota that the United States could be
made to pay S2o0o0,090 or S25.OO0Oo0
instead OF 100000. or. better still. il
the treaty were rejected or no action
taken upon it and the whole matter
POSTPONED for another year, the con-
cession Of the present French canal
company having expired by that time
the renewal of another concession
would be declared invalid and all the
rights. privileges and work OF the
French canal company be practically
confscated and disposed of to the
United States for $4,000 600 in addi-
ton TO the $40 100000 as proposed, and
the annuity Of $4,000 This was a
radiant and alluring prospect and the
temptation proved 100 strong.
This particular phase Of canal his
tory and the possible consequences of
the action Of the Colombian govern
ment IN rejecting the treaty have not
been extensively discussed. II you
will consider il carefully You will see
that out Of the conditions came one
Of our strongest needs for prompt and
courageous action when the oppor-
tunity was offered by the revolution
in Panama on November g.
q may safely assert without fear
Of contradiction by any well-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 the
Bogota politicians devised for the loot
ing OF the French company Of $4,000
900.
The moment that the cables flashed
from Bogota to Paris the astounding
news that the extension Of the French
concession was cancelled a French
squadron from Martinique would have
borne down upon the Isthmus and per-
haps have landed marines at Colon
and sent them across the Isthmus TO
Panama and along the line of the canal
to protect the interests and property
OF French citizens. There would, IN
all probability. have been an armed
conflict between France and Colombia,
or France at least would have felt her.
self compelled to hold the Isthmus for
q long period. This would have wrought
Immediately and poignantly upon the
sensibilities Of the American people IN
respect to the Monroe Doctrine, and
we would no doubt have found our
selves viewing France with annoying
apprehensions. The french warships
might easily have been followed by
those of England and Holland; and
Panama, like the Balkan states, might
we'll have been expected to furnish the
spark to set half the world in flames"
Canada After Cruisers.
St Johns n. f., Dec. let Is I'M
derstood that the Canadian govern
ment is likely to purchase for perma-
nent cruiser the Newfoundland sealing
steamer Neptune, which is now in
Hudson Bay with a Canadian expedi-
tion, and that another ship is being
sought for here. Both vessels viii be