New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-07
No OTHER COURSE OPEN
DIR. HAYS SETTLEMENT.
Recognition of Panama an accord
7cith Justice and Equity.

Washington. Nov. 1.-THE Secretary Of State
tonight made the following statement in regard
to affairs on the I5thmus of Panama:
The action of the President in the Panama
matter is not only in the strictest accordance
with the principles of justice and equity. and in
line with all the best presidents of our public
policy but It was the only course ne could have
taken in compliance with our treaty rights and
obligations. BY our treaty entered into with
New-Granada in the year 1916 New-Granada
guarantees that the right of way or transit
across the Isthmus of Panama upon any modes
of communication that exist or that may
hereafter be constructed shall be free and open
to the government and citizens of the United
States. This is right which we acquired by
the treaty. not gratuitously conferred but in
return for an important compensation; for in
the same article the government of the United
states guarantees positively and eficaciousIy
to NewGranada, by the present stipulation. the
perfect neutrality OF the before mentioned 18TH
mus with the view that the transit from one
to the other sea may not be interrupted or en-
barrassed in any future time while this treaty
exists; and in consequence the United States
guarantees in the manner the rights of SOW
ereignty and property which New-Granada has
and poss esses over the said territory.
THE close connection thus created between
the two governments was we'll set forth by
President Polk in his message transmitting the
treaty to the Senate. He said:
The Importance of the concession TO CONNER
cial and political interests of the United States
cannot be overrated. The route by the Isthmus
of Panama is the shortest between the two
oceans, and from the information herewith COM
inundated il would seem TO be the most practi-
cable for railroad or canal The vast advan-
tages TO our commerce which would result from
such a communication not only with the west
coast of America but with Asia and the ISL
ands Of the Pacific. are too obvious TO require
any detail Such passage would save US from
n long and dangerous navigation of more than
nine thousand miles around the Horn. and rem
der our communication with our own possessions
on the northwest coast o. America compare
lively easy and speedy The treaty does not
propose 10 guarantee a treaty TO a foreign ma
ton IN which the United States will have no
common interest with that nation On the con-
trary. we are more deeply and directly interested
in the subject Of the guarantee than New-Gra-
NADIA herself or any other country
Right o CONTROL THE IsTHAIUs.
These considerations the controlling nature
OF which were at once recognized so long ago
have become more and more important in every
year that has elapsed since the treaty was writ
ten Our acquisition Of Hawaii and the Philip
pines has given tnem a greatly enhanced valid
fly. The control. in the interest of the commerce
and traffic of the whole civilized world. OF the
me ms Of undisturbed transit across the IsthmUs
of Panama has become OF transcendent import
to the United States.
"The right to this control we have never for
feited by any laxity OF our own. either in the
Of our duty under the treaty III 1855 Mr. Eve
rett assured the Peruvian Minister that we
should not hesitate TO maintain the neutrality
Of the isthmus in the case Of war between Peru
and Colombia. In 1864 Colombia. which has
always been vigilant to avail itself Of it's privi
Ieges conferred by the treaty. expressed its ex-
pectation that In the event of war between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry into
effect the guarantee of neutrality.
There have been few administrations of the
State Department in which this treaty has not
either by the one side or the other. been used as
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 at
tack upon Colombian sovereignty on the 18th
Continued n second page.
"DEwEY's WINES ARE PURE"
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