Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE READ.
ONE OF THE SHORTEST EVER
SENT TO CONGRESS.
Panama Canal Project One of His
Most Prominent Topics-Says All
Obstacles Have Been Removed
American Navy Growing-Postal
Frauds Mentioned.

Washington, Dec. 8.-The presi
dents message was read Monday. II
is document covering 36 large type
set pages. aggregating at least 20 col
umns of an average sized newspaper.
The president first makes historical
review, showing that in 1916 our gov
eminent entered into a treaty with
New Granada, the predecessor upon
the Isthmus and of the present Repub-
lie of Panama, by which treaty right
of way across the isthmus was grant
ed.
Roosevelt, after calling attention to
the action of Colombia, last spring,
in breaking the treaty, reports long
list of So riots and political disturb
ances on the isthmus in 81 years. He
concludes
"The experience of half century
has shown Colombia to be utterly in
capable of keeping order on the 18TH
mus. Only the active interference of
the United States has enabled her to
preserve so much as semblance of
sovereignty. Had it not been for the
exercise by the United States of the
police power in her interest, her con-
nection with the isthmus would have
been sundered long ago In 1866, in
1860. in 1873, in 1885, in 1901, and
again in 1902, sailors and marines
from United States warships were
forced to land in order to patrol the
isthmus, to protect life and property.
'By the new treaty our interests
are better safeguarded than in the
treaty with Colombia which was rati-
fed by the senate at its last session.
1t is better in its terms than the treat
les offered to us by the republics of
Nicaragua and Costa RIGA. At last
the right to begin this great under
taking is made available. Panama
has done her part. All that remains
is for the American congress to do
its part and forthwith this republic
win enter upon the execution of
project colossal in it's size and of we'll
nigh inealculable possibilities for the
good of this country and the nations
of mankind
by the provisions of the treaty the
United States guarantees and will
maintain the independence of the Re-
public of Panama. There is granted
to the United States in perpetuity the
use, occupation, and control of
strip 10 miles wide and extending
three nautical miles into the sea at
either terminal. with all lands lying
outside of the zone necessary for the
construction of the canal or for its
auxiliary works, and with the islands
in the Bay of Panama. The cities of
Panama and Colon are not embraced
in the canal zone, but the United
States assumes their sanitation and,
in case of need, the maintenance of
order therein; the United States en-
joys within the granted limits all the
rights. power and authority which it
would possess were 1t the sovereign
of the territory to the exclusion of
the exercise of sovereign rights by
the republic"
Concerning the navy, the president
says: shortly after the enunciation
of that famous principle of American
foreign policy now known as the
Monroe Doctrine President Monroe,
in a special message to congress on
January 80, 1924, spoke as follows;
The navy is the arm from which our
government will always derive most
aid in support of our rights.
Every power engaged in war will
know the strength of our naval power,
the number of our ships Of each class,
their condition and the promptitude
with which we may bring them into
service, and will pay due considera-
ton to that argument
81 heartily congratulate the con-
gress upon the steady progress in
building up the American navy. We
can not afford a let-up in this great
work. To stand still means to go
back. There should be no cessation
in adding to the effective units of the
fighting strength of the feet. Mean.
while the navy department and the
officers of the navy are doing well
their part by providing constant serv-
ice at sea under conditions akin to
those of actual warfare. Our officers
and enlisted men are learning to
handle the battleships, cruisers and
torpedo boats with high efficiency in
neet and squadron formations, and
the standard of craftsmanship is be
ing steadily raised. The best work
ashore is indispensable, but the high
est duty Of a naval officer is to exer
else command at sea.