The Washington times., 1903-12-07

surrections, riots. and other outbreaks
are enumerated in what the message
presents as only a partial list Of dis
tUrbances occurring In the course Of the
fifty-seven years. The President then
comments on this condition OF almost
continual strife:
I'm short. the experience of over half
I century has shown Colombia to be
utterly incapable of keeping order on
the isthTnus. Only the active Interior
ence Of the United States has enabled
her to preserve so much as sem
blance OF sovereignty, Had il not been
for tho exercise by the United States
OF the police power in her interest. her
connection with the isthmus would have
been sundered long ago.
Marines Landed.
In 1906. 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 &c patrol the
isthmus. 10 protect life ara property,
| and to sec that the transit across the
isthmus was kept open. In 1861. in 1852.
in 1855. and in 1900. the Colombian gov
/ eminent asked that the United State@
/ Government would land troops To pro-
| tect its interests and maintain order
on the isthmus.
The latest proposition OF the Co1om-
I bian government referred 20 In the
message as perhaps the most extraor-
/ binary" is as follows:
| knowing that revolution has already
commenced in Panama fan eminent Co
| .ombianl says that IL the Government
| Of the United States will land troops
| a
/ che transit, II requested by Colombian
| charge q affaires. this government VIII
/ declare martial law; and. by virtue OF
! vested constitutional authority. when
| public order is disturbed, will approve
| by decree the ratification of the canal
| q eaty as, signed or, II the Govern
ment OF nc Dnitfc states preIers' VII
call extra session Of the congress with
/ new and friendly meubers-next May 20
| approve the treaty.
Ian eminent Colornbianl has the per
feet confidence Of vice president, be-
SAYS. and II Il became necessary vii,
20 to the isthmus or send representa-
tive there 10 adjust matters along above
lines 20 the satisfaction OF the people
there
Perfdy of Colombia.
The message continues:
This dispatch Is noteworthy from two
standpoiuts. Its offer of Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty 70 Us is In
sharp contrast with the positive anc
contemptuous refusal Of the congress,
which has just closed it's sessions .
consider favorably such a treaty; T.
shows that the government which made
the treaty really had absolute contro
over the situation. but did not choose
TO exercise this control
THE dispatch further calls on as e
restore order and secure Colombian SUI
/ premacy in the isthmus from which tn
Colombian government has just by IT.
> action decided to bar US by preventing
} the construction Of the canal"
p The Importance to the United STATE.
. Of control Of means of uudisturbet
transit across the isthmus Is discussed
The control. in the interest OF th'
commerce and traffic of the whole civ
P ilized world. OF the means of undis
, turbed transit across the Isthmus o
/ Panama has become OF transcendent i'm
2 portant,e to the United States We hav
/ repeatedly exercised this control by In
- tervening in the course Of domestic dis
q sensiOn and/by protecting the territor.
! from foreign INVASION
5 Warnings to Powers.
. Occasions upon which the Unite
g States has been called upon 70 asser
+ its purpose under the obligations Of tn
3, treaty Of 1896 TO maintain the neutralit,
9 Of the isthmus in case OF war with Co
lombia. are briefly enumerated.
There have been few Administrations
I tltty AAA~ - $3.50
g has not. either by the one side or To
. other been used as a basis of NOR
70 or less important demands.
J. Secretary Fish. the message says. cE
n pressed the opinion. in 1871. that an az
% tack upon Colombian sovereignty on til
. isthmus had on several occasions bee
. averted by warnings from this Govern
, ment.
d Conclusions Arrived at.
l. The recital Of these facts, the Pres
} dent deduces, establishes beyond que:
: ton;
"First-That the United States has 70
e over half a century patiently and /
l. good faith carried out its obligation
y under the treaty of 1876.
l. ''Second-That when for the first tim
d it became possible for Colombia to d
Il anything in requital OF the services thu
. I repeatedly rendered TO Il FOR fifty-seve
:, years BY the United States, the 60
III lombian government poremptortly an
"a / extensively refused thus to do its par
- even though TO do so would have bee
10 its advantage and immeasnrably [
/ the advantage OF the state OF Panama
\ at that time under it's Jurisdiction.
20 ''Third-That throughout this perio
~ revolutions riots, and factional dis
Nl turbances of every kind have occurre
one after the other in almost uninte'
.e Z rupted succession. some OF them lastin
10 for months and even for years. Will
2 the central government was unable [
q, put them down or 20 make peace wit
20 the rebels
"Fourth-Iaat these disturbances. 81
n stead of showing any sign OF abatinI