The Yale expositor., 1903-12-11

bee noted that one of them lasted FOR near
~ three years before 10 was quelled. an
other for nearly year In short. tho
experience OF over half a century has
shown Colombia 90 bee utterly incapable
of keeping order on the iathmus. only
the active Interference of the United
States has enabled her TO preserve 30
much as a semblance of sovereignty Had
II not been for the exercise by the United
states OF the police power In her interest.
her connection with the isthmus would
have been sundered long ago. In is56, In
iSeo. In 1873 In lhA5, In 1901, and again In
1902. sailors and marines from United
States war ships were forced TO land In
order Co patrol the isthmus. 20 protect
life and property. and TO see that tho
transit across the isthmus was kept
open. In isGi. In 1852. Ia iss5. and In $780,
the Colombian Government asked that tho
United states Government would land
troops TO protect its interests and main
tain order on the lsthmus perhaps the
most extraordinary request IN that which
has Just been received and which runs
as follows:
knowing that revolution has already
commenced In Panama Tan eminent CO.
lombianl says that II the Government ~
the United States will land troops 10 pre-
serve Colombian sovereignty and tho
transit. 10 requested by Colombian charge
d'afIaires. this Government will declare
martial law, and. by virtue 81 vested con
II restored. will approve by decree the
ratification % the canal treaty as signed
or, II the Government OF the United
States prefers. viii call extra session OF
the Coneress-Nith new and friendly
Reimbursement May to approve the
treaty, IAN eminent Colomhianl has tho
perfect confidence OF yice-president no
says. and II 10 became necessary will go
To the isthmus or send representative
there To- adjust matters along above lines
To the satisfaction % the people there"
This dispatch II noteworthy from two
standpoints It's ofer OF Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty 20 us Is la sharp
contrast with the positive and contemp-
tuous refusal OF the Congress which has
Just closed It's sessions to consider ia
vorably such a treaty: IL shows that tho
Government which made the treaty really
had absolute control over the situation,
but did not choose to exercise this con-
troll The dispatch further calls on US
to restore order and secure Colombian
supremacy ia the isthmus from which tho
Colombian Government has just by it's
action decided TO bar US by preventing
the construction OF the canal
Importance OF Peace In lsthmus.
The control In the interest OF the com
merce and traffic Of the whole civilized
world. OF the means % undisturbed tran
sit across the lsthmus OF Panama has
become OF transcendent Importance TO
exercised ;his control by intervening In
the course Of domestic disSension, and
by protecting the territory from foreign
invasion. In 1853 Mr.. Everett assured
the Peruvian minister that We should
not hesitate TO maintain the neutrality
% the isthmus In the case OF war be-
tween Peru and Colombia In iSi CO.
lombia. which has always been yigilant
20 avail itself Of its privileges conferred
by the treaty. expressed is expectation
that IN the event OF war between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry
into effect the guaranty OF neutrality.
There have been few administrations %
the state Department 10 which this
treaty has not either by the one side
or the other been used a. a basis OF
more or less important demands II was
said by Mr. Fish in 1871 that the Depart
ment OF state had reason TO believe that
an attack upon Colombian sovereignty
on the isthmus had. on several Occa-
sions. been avertcd by warning from this
Government In 1856 when Colombia was
under the menace Of hos;ilitlcs from
Italy Co.. the Ccrrutl case. Mr. Bayurd cN-
pressed the serious concern that the
United States could not but feel. that a
European power should resort 90 force
against sister republic OF this hemis-
phcre. az To the sovereign and uuiuter-
rupt,d uy" ~ part OF who's" territory
Ne are gnarantors under the solemn faith
% q treaty
Treaty with Republic OF Panama.
Every effort has been made by the Cow
eminent 81 the United States 60 persuade
Colombia Co follow course which was
essentially not only To our interests and
10 the interests OF the world but 90 the
interests of Colombia Itself These ef-
forts have failed; and Colombia hy her
persistence In rcpulsing the advances that
have neen made. has forced Us. FOR the
sake - our own honor. snd ~ the inter-
st and well being. not merely Of our own
people. hut 81 the people OF the lsthmus
~ Panama and the people Of the civilized
countries 81 the world, 90 take decisive
steps Go bring To AN end "A condition OF
affairs which had become intolerabe.
The new Republic 81 Panama immediate
~ offered TO negotiate n treaty with us.
This treaty herewith submit. BY " our
interests are better safeguarded than In
the treaty with Colombia which was rati-
fed by the Senate at its last session. IL "
better Ia It's terms than the treaties Of
fered 20 us by the Republics OF Aicara-
qua and Costa Rica. Al last the right
90 begin this great undertaking Is made
available. Panama has done her part
All that remains u for the American Con-
gress TO do it, part and forthwith this
Republic Will enter upon the execution
~ project colossal In is size and Of
wcll-n mis-. incalculablc possibilities FOR the
good % this country and the nations Of
mankind
Provisions OF Treaty.
Ry the provisions % the treaty the
United States guarantees and wall main
tain the independence Of the Republic %
Panama. There N granted 10 the United
States IN pcrpetuty the use. occupation.
ana ceitrol 81 a strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into the
sea AZ either terminal. with all lands ly-
Ing cuisine % the zone necessary for tho
construction ~ the canal or for it, aux
Hilary works. and with the islands In tho
/ Bay 81 Panama. The cities 81 Panama
and Colon are hot embraced in the canal
zone but the United States assumes
| their sanitation and. In case % need. tbs
maintenance Of order therein. the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
all the rights. power. and authority which
| IN would possess were u the sovereign q
| the territory 20 the exclusion 81 the eN-
crcise % sovereign rights by the Republic.
| AL railway and canal property rights be-
| longing 20 Panama and needed for the
canal pass 10 the United States. inciud-
| ing any property OF the respective COM
uanies Ia the cities OF Panama and Co
/ ION. the wor..s, property. and personnel
/ - the canal and railways are exempted
from taxation az well In the cities OF