Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1903-11-27
REPLY OF PRES. MARROQUIN
AS TO POLITICAL SITUATION IN
COLUMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA.
Says Americans Are Well Guarded
Situation In the interior ls Quiet
His Address to Americans--ThInl<s
Treaty Has Beer vIolated--AppeaIs
to National Conscience Of United
States to Save Their Honor.

Bogota.-President Marroquin has
made the following statement to the
Associated Press, in response to quer-
les as to the political situation in Co
lombia:
United States Minister Beaupre
and all Americans here are surround
ed with every guarantee for their safe
ty. My communications to the United
States senate and to the people make
manifest the attitude of my govern
ment on the Panama question. The
situation in the interior of the Colon
bian republic is quiet"
President Marroquin's reference to
his letter to the people of the United
States is explained by the following
address, which he has given to the cor
respondent of the Associated Press:
Presidents Address.
"The President of Colombia to the
American People: The Colombian ma
ton has been the victim of unexpected
aggression and is in danger of losing
the best part of its territory. A mill
tary movement, not popular sentiment,
was the origin of the proclamation of
the independence of Panama. The
American government, which had al
ways been held by Colombia to be its
best friend and ally, prevented, with
marines, loyal militia from subjugat-
ing the traitors and checking the orig
in OF the INSTRUMENTATION. The solemn
treaty between Colombia and the Unit
ed States, adhered to until the last by
the American government, binds the
United States not only to respect the
sovereignty and ownership Of the Pan
ANA isthmus by Colombia, but to help
the latter maintain them.
"The proceedings of the United
States marines on the isthmus and of
the American minister here are in
open violation of that treaty. The
isthmus of Panama. the most coveted
part of the globe and the most preci-
GUS part of our fatherland, always has
been respected by the nations as a sa-
cred trust confided by Colombia to the
honor and power Of the American peo-
pie. The traditions of that great ma
ton, the United States, as a mighty
defender Of right and bearer Of the
standard of civilization before the
world, always have been opposed to
the cession Of territories and the dis
memberment of nations. Nonrecogni.
ton of the confederate states during
the civil war confirms emphatically
the application of this doctrine deci-
sively at critical moments.
"The American people will not per.
init, I am sure, a violation of public
treaties, thus denying their glorious
traditions, in order to obtain by force
what Colombia is ready to concede
through pacific and equitable ways
Colombia heartily wishes to strength
en- the ties of commerce and friend
ship with the United States and give
higher impulse to the common interest
and to the greater power and glory OF
her Oldest sister republic. But the
proceedings of the Washington gov
eminent unhappily interfere with good
| LOClih6 III DOIA COuAIAlO0g
barrier in the way Of higher enter
prise advantageous not only to them
but to humanity in general.
"The Colombian people, tranquil In
the strength of right and being sure Of
the sentiments of justice and equity
of the American people, appeal to the
national conscience Of the United
States, which conscience constitutes
a force superior by far to that of ar
army and navy. in order to save the
honor and integrity of our territory
The Stars and Stripes, always dear tc
and respected by the republicans Of
both Americas. never shall be outrag
ed or blemished in Colombia.
mo matter what the procedure o.
the government at Washington may
be, the persons and the property of the
citizens of the United States here re
main confident to the traditional hon
or of tha Government ond DaopIo NJ