Evening journal., 1903-12-04
ENeLAND's PRESS AND PANAMA

Those citizens who always seek an
improper motive 10 attribute TO our
government in the handling OF great
questions were shocked when we
recognized Panama and prepared the
way for the construction of the inter-
oceanic canal They apparently hoped
for foreign Intervention and prepared
for severe criticism from abroad. They
should read the following observations
from the leading journals OF England.
The London Times. for instance, says;
Whatever may have been the action
of individual American partlzans Of
the Panama canal in fomentlng the re-
bellion. there is no reason whatever 10
suppose that President Roosevelt's gov
ernment took the least part In working
for the overthrow OF Colombian rule
upon the isthmus. Very little hnowl-
edge Of the character OF the president
is needed to show how untenable is any
such theory. But the revolution hav-
ing once broken out. his government
occupied an extremely strong position.
IL had merely to observe the letter and
spirit of the treaty, and wait to see
Il the new State had sufficient vitality
10 establish itself, and could command
the general adherence OF its people
Mr.. Hays vlgilant and skilful diplom-
acy turned the opportunity to fun &C.
count, and without any transgressior
Of the law OF nations the United States
government comes in sight u the ful.
/ nlment Of its cherished scheme fol
building the canal. But there arr
other aspects of the matter besides
which arrest the attention OF observers
of American development. Correctly "a,
the United States may construe thu
limitations OF her authorized position
the isthmus will be. as our correspond.
cnt has pointed out. henceforth In al
essentials under her protectorate. II
viii be interesting 20 watch the infu-
ence OF this fact upon American Inn
pcrialism. and to see whether il viii
insenslbly draw the United states into
relations OF fuller responsibility moi
merely toward Central but toward
South America.
The Spectator remarks:
1T need not be assumed that IN,
United states On any way instigateC
the revolution. That was not necos.
sary. The local patriots were quit,
sufficiently anxious withou; any ex,
ternal encouragement 20 make o revo'
J luton. The creation of q repubH,
placed them at once 30 The possession
OF a most valuable commercial and po
iitical asset II Colombia would no
take the money offered by the Unite,
States. they would"
The Daily Mail has this 20 say:
That the United states aided o
y abetted the revolutionary movement VI
e do not believe; that individual Ameri
cans had a hand in II may be take
as certain. There are powerful fnan
. rial Interests Identified with the Pan
e anna canal. and these were determine
20 prevent any possibility OF the adop
ton Of tho Nicaraguan route by IN
United States which was the aiterna
T. tive, II the Panama line became i'm
possible The independence OF the me-
10 republic viii be OF a shadowy and un
satisfactory nature. This weak littl
70 state, with no credit. must come 20 de
Is pend entirely upon the United State
n to which Il viii henceforth be vlrtu
"A ally annexed. Thus the United State
draws q step nearer 70 the immens
'e wealth OF South America. which mu.
'e one day fall under their control.