Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-07
Panama in the Message

The most interesting portion of the Presi-
dent s message is the conclusion that mart
in which he outlines the course of events
with regard to the isthmian canal Yet
there Is nothing new in his report on the
case, nothing startling. Every fact which
he sets forth has been heretofore proclaimed
more or less explicitly and the line of the
PRESIDENTS argument in Justification of his
course in recognizing and negotiating with
the new government Of Panama has been
accura tely forecast.
In brief. the President declares to Com
sress that its own mandate as to the route
Tor the canal so strongly favored Panama
that 1t was his duty to continue to seek the
necessary rights there despite the change of
the title of the sovereign government. The
act OF 1902. he says gave the preference to
the Panama route over that of Nicaragua
and when. before the time arrived to take
up Nicaragua as an alternative the SOW
ereignty over the isthmus passed into new
hands. fresh chance was offered for Sc
curing the preferred route which it was the
impera tive duty of the President to accept
The isthmian chapter. of the message
bears in no degree upon the question of
foreknowledge by the United States of the
secessionary movement in Panama. 1t deals
exclusively with the facts officially before
this government. The United States, the
President points out with care. quoting
opinions by past authorities, holds the DO
sftion of guarantor of the traffic across the
isthmus, under the treaty of 1916. AS a re-
suit of that obligation this government has
been required -on six occasions In the past
TO land troops. The isthmus has been In an
almost constant state of turbulence for the
hfty-seven years which have elapsed since
the treaty of New Granada was negotiat ted.
OF riots. outbreaks. revolutions and civil
wars there have been in that time no less
than fifty-three almost one for every
year. 90
Of especial interest is the message to the
United States from an unidentified source
AN eminent Colombian quoted by the
President to show the real spirit of the
government of Colombia with regard to the
canal treaty. This message though EVIL
IDENTIFY unofficial in its immediate character,
was tantanouitf to offer that if the,
United States Would agree to the restora-
ton by force of arms of tile Colombian
sovereignty over Panama the government
at Bogota would guarantee the ratification
of a canal treaty satisfactory to the United
States. This offer was virtually an adfnis-
sion that the authorities at Bogota have
had absolute control over the fate of the
treaty. and are themselves directly respon-
sible for the defeat of the agreement which
they had negotiated. = e '''+'S-f
The canal section Of the message will
doubtless impress the country fayorably. 1t
brings the case of the canal to the most
satisfactory statu il has ever enjoyed A
treaty more favorable than any other ever
negotiated is now ready for ratification by
the Senate. There is no proba bility of a
further hitch al the other end of the line.
The record of the United States in the
premises is clean and the people dwelling on
the isthmus. the real owners of the rights
which are now generously rendered to
this government. are enthusiastic in their
eagerness that THIS country Undertake at
once the great work urgently. demanded
by the worlds commercial and political IN
terests. The construction of an isthmau
canal under American control seems to be
assured