The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-07
INDEPENDENCE OF PANAMA RECOG.


The statement issued by the State Depart
ment yesterday, after a Cabinet meeting,
amounts to a practical recognition of the
independence Of Panama. Although the
recognition comes very quickly after the
revolution. it is justified by the circum-
stances. The Colombian government hav-
ing been overthrow and the
authorities having withdrawn, the new
provisional government of Panama is the
only authority left there to deal with, and
is the de facto government. 1t now be-
comes responsible for II preservation of
order in Panama and TO the protection of
the persons and proper y of foreign resi-
dents. Not to have recognized it pending
the establishment of a permanent govern
ment would have encouraged a condition
of anarchy for which other powers might
have held the United States responsible as
American affairs. AS Congress is to meet
so soon, some may think the President
should have awaited its action before rec
ognizing the new republic. 1t was optional
with him to do so or not. Recognition of a
new government may be extended either by
the President or by Congress. as circum-
stances seem TO require, and it has been
done in both ways. In some instances rec
ognition has been deferred several years,
while in others it has been very prompt.
All of the original South American repub-
lies which revolted against Spain had
practical independence several years before
it was recognized by the United States. In
1877 Henry Clay endeavored to secure an
appropriation from Congress for sending
an accredited minister TO Buenos Ayres,
which had been. a free and independent re-
public for more than a year, but Congress
refused. March s, 1S22, President Monroe
sent a special message to Congress recon-
mending the recognition of Bueaos Ayres,
Chill, Colombia and other republics, and
the establishment of international relations
with them. In this message he said:
The contest has now reached such a
stage and been attended with such decisive
success on the part OF the provinces that
IL merits the most profound consideration
whether their right to the rank Of inde-
pendent nations is not complete. BuenoS
Ayres assumed that rank by a formal dec
S y GU II
since 1Sl0 without invasion by the parent
country. The provinces composing the re-
public of Colombia. after having separately
declared their independence, were united by
a law of the 18th OF Decem-
Der, 1919. A strong Spanish force occupied
at that time certain parts OF the territory
within their limits and waged a deStruct-
i've war. That force has since been re-
peatedly defeated, and the whole of ii
either made prisoners or destroyed or ex-
PEELED from the country. with the exception
of an inconsiderable portion only, which is
blockaded in two fortresses. The provinces
on the Pacific have likewise been very sue
cessful. Chilli declared independence in 1918
and has since enjoyed IL undisturbed; and
of late, by the assistance OF Chill and
Buenos Ayres. the movement has extended
10 Peru. OF the movement in Mexico, our in
formation is less authentic, but il is. never
theless, distinctly understood that the new
government has declared its independence.
and that there is. now no opposition to IL
there nor any force TO make any. For the
last three years the government OF Spain
has not sent a single corps OF troops TO
any part of that country. nor is there any
reason 10 believe il will send any in future.
In these circumstances. President Mon
roe recommended recognition of the indie
pendence OF all the States named. and Con-
gress complied by providing for the esta5-
lishment of diplomatic relations with them.
This was not done till 1872. several years
after some of the states had virtually ac-
CURED their Independence. This delay was
out Of consideration to Spain. whose gov
ernrncnt still claimed authority over the
provinces. though really It had none.
In some other instances recognition of
new governments has come very promptly
and from the President alone. This was
notably the case with the French repub-
lie declared after the F-ranco-Prussian war
In 1870. In that case recognition OF the new
government was wired by President Grant
TO our minister at Paris as soon as the re-