Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-12-19

w three years before II WAS QaSt4ros
other for nearly year In short. the
experience OF over half q century mas
shown Colombia to be utterly incapable
of keeping order on the istnmus- rn Unsg
States has enabled her to preserve SO
much as senblance of sovereignty HAD
IL not been for the exercise by the United
states of the police power in her interest.
her connection with the isthmus womb
have been sundered long ago. In 1885, IN
1850 in 1873. in 1885. in 1901. and again IN
1902, sailors and marines from United
States war ships were forced to land IN
order to patrol the isthmus. to protect
life and property. and to see that the
transit across the isthmus was kept
open In 1861. in 1862, in 1855. and In 1900,
the Colombian Government asked that the
United States Government would land
troops to protect its interests and main
tain order the isthmus. perhaps the
most extraordinary request is that which
has just been received and which runs
as follows.
Knowing that revolution has already
commenced in Panama ian eminent Co
lombian] says that If the Government of
the United States will land troops to pre-
serve Colombian sovereignty, and the
transit. IL requested by Colomb ian charge
d'affaires, this Government will declare
martial law: and by virtue of vested con-
stitutional authority. when public order
Is restored. will approve by decree the
ratification of the canal treaty signed.
or, If the Government of the United
States prefers. viii call extra session OF
the Congress-with new and friendly
menbers-next May to approve the
treaty IAN eminent Co1ombianl has the
perfect confidence of vice-president he
says. and if it became necessary will go
to the isthmus send representative
there to adjust matters along bove lines
to the satisfaction of the people there"
This dispatch is noteworthy from two
standpoints. Its offer of Immediately
guaranteeing the treaty to us is in sharp
contrast with the positive and contemp-
tuous refusal of the Congress which has
just closed its sessions to consider IA
vorably such a treaty; it shows that the
Government which made the treaty really
had absolute control over the situation.
but did not choose to exercise this con-
troll The dispatch further calls on us
to restore order and secure Colombian
supremacy in the isthmus from which the
Colombian Government has just by it's
action decided to- bar us by preventing
the construction of the canal.
Importance or Peace in Isthmus.
The control, in the interest of the com
merce and traffic of the whole civilized
world, of the means of undisturbed tram
sit across the Isthmus of Panama has
become of transcendent Importance to
the United States. We have repeatedly
exercised this control by intervening in
the course of domestic dissenson. and
by protecting the territory from foreign
invasion. In 1853 Mr.. Everett assured
the Peruvian minister that should
not hesitate to maintain the neutrality
of the isthmus in the case of war be-
tween Peru and Colombo In 1864 CO.
lombia, which has always been vigilant
to avail itself of its privileges conferred
by the treaty, expressed its expectation
that in the event of between Peru
and Spain the United States would carry
into effect the guaranty of neutrality.
There have been few administrations of
the State Department in which this
treaty has not. either by the side
or the other, been used as basis of
more less important demands. 1t
said by Mr.. Fish in 1871 that the Depart
ment of State had reason to believe that
an attack upon Colombian sovereignty
the isthmus had. on several occa-
sions. been averted by warming from this
Government. In 1886, when Colombia was
under the menace of hostilities from
Italy in the Cerruti case, Mr.. Bayard ex-
pressed the serious concern that the
United States could not but feel, that a
European power should resort to force
against a sister republic of this hemis-
phere. as to the sovereign and uninter-
rupted of part of whose territory
we are guarantors under the solemn faith
of treaty.
Treaty With Republic of Panama.
Every effort has been made by the Cow
eminent of the United States to persuade
Colombia to follow course which
essentially not only to our interests and
10 ene interests OF the , world Put r TO the
forts have failed; and Colombia, by her
persistence in repulsing the advances that
have been made, has forced us, for the
sake of our own honor, and of the inter-
est and well-being. not merely of our own
people. but of the people. of the Isthmus
of Panama and the people of the civilized
countries of the world, to take decisive
steps to bring to end a condition OF
affairs which had become intolera ble-
The new Republic of Panama Immediate
ly offered to negotiate a treaty with
This treaty 1 herewith submit. BY it
interests better safeguarded than in
the treaty with Colombia which was rati-
fed by the Senate ct its last session 1t Is
better in its terms than the treaties Of
fered to us by the Republics of Nicara-
qua and c. sta Rica- At last the right
to begin this great undertaking is made
available Panama has done her part
All that remains is for the American Con-
gress to do it's part and forthwith this
Republic will enter upon the execution
of a project colossal in its size and OF
good of this country and the nations OF
mankind.
Provisions of Treaty.
BY the provisions of the treaty the
United States guarantees and will main
tain the independence of the Republic OF
Panama There is granted to the United
States in perpetuity the use. occupation
and control of a strip ten miles wide and
extending three nautical miles into the
at either terminal. with all lands ly-
ing outside of the zone necessary for the
construction of the canal for its aux
fliary works. and with the islands in the
Bay of Panama The cities of Panama
zone but the United States assumes
their sanitation and. in case of need the
maintenance OF order therein: the United
States enjoys within the granted limits
all the rights. power. and authority which
1T would possess were it the sovereign OF
the territory to the exclusion of the er
ercise of sovereign rights by the Republic
All railway and canal property rights be-
longing to Panama and needed for tha
canal pass to the United States INCLUDE
ing any property of the respective COM
panies in the cities of Panama and Co
"