The San Francisco call., 1903-12-03
CANAL. PACT
IS RATIFIED.
BY PANAMA
Junta Accepts the
Treaty Without
Amendment.
Prompt Action Causes
Rejoicing On the.
ISthmuS..
Document Will Be Hurried
to Washington for the;
Final Move.

EANA0dA, Lee. In the grand salon
Of the Government palace the treaty
between the United States and the Gov
ernment OF Panama was signed at 1888
O'Clock this forenoon by the members
of the junta and by all the Ministers OF
the republic: Senior Arrange, President
Of the Senate. was the first TO sign. A
number of prominent persons were
present. including Senor Bridi, Presi-
dent of the municipality of Panama.
and General Huertas. commander-in-
chief of the forces of the republic.
The ceremony was performed in n.pubs
lie, number. Of the citizens Of Pana-
ma crowding the doors Of the salon. A
big flag Of the new republic was draped
behind the table on which the document
was signed. Photographs were taken
Of the principal signers as they at
tached their signatures to the treaty.
Senior Arrange announced that the
treaty would not only be Signed. but
that the fact OF its ratification would
be published this afternoon. This an
nouncement was greeted with great ap-
plause by the assemblage.
DECREE APPROVING TREATY.
Immediately before attaching mis- sig
nature to the treaty Senior Arrange
read decree in which was recited the
fact that an agreement had been en-
tered into between Philippe Bunau-Va-
riIla, representing. the republic Of
Panama, and Secretary Hay. repre-
senting the United States. This was
followed with the text of the treaty.
The decree then says.
Considering. first. that in the treaty
a guarantee of the independence Of the
republic of Panama is obtained; and.
second, that for reasons OF external
safety it is Indispensable to proceed
with the greatest celerity to the consid-
Grafton Of The treaty, to the end that
this. the principal obligation on the
part of the United States. shall begin
and be e1ficaciously. fulfilled: and. third,
that by this treaty the isthmian people
consent to the opening Of a canal and
to its use for the benefit OF the com
meree of all nations. thus realizing the
dreams Of all isthmians: and, fourth,
that the junta of the provisional gov
ernment, formed by the unanimous
will of the people Of the republic: is
possessed OF full sovereign powers over
the isthmian territory. it is decreed that
the treaty. entered into at Washington
on the 18th Of November beween Phil
ippe Bunau-Varilla and Secretary John
Hay be hereby approved.
TSTHMIANS ARE JOYOUS.
The signing of the treaty was Joy
fully accepted by the people and
there was no opposition of any na-
ture whatever. The members of the
provisional government are pleased
and gratihed that the matter is now
off their hands.
The gold pen with which the treaty.
was signed was presented by the
members of the junta TO Consul Cen
eral Gudger. with letter expressing
the pleasure the junta felt in making
the gift. The letter contained many
complimentary remarks concerning
the long and efficient service of the
Consul General and ended by saying:
Should your Government. as some
American papers have indicated. call
you to higher and more intimate re-
lations with the republic of Panama.
1t will be pleasing to us and meet with
the hearty approval of the people,
There was a general jollihcation in
Panama this evening over the signing
of the treaty. Bands paraded the
streets and fireworks were exploded.
A great crowd assembled on the plaza
and marched to the Government pal
ace, where it gave vent TO its 10y in
cheers. A reception was held at the
palace. where many prominent per-
sons made speeches. while the crowds
outside continued to cheer for the
junta. The soldiers, who were all
given leave from barracks, Joined the
merrymakers-
There is every evidence that the
signing of the treaty is an extremely
popular event in Panama.