Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-07
Secretary of State Explains Presi-
dents Action in Recognizing the
New Republic.
STRICTLY WITHIN HIS RIGHTS.
His Course Marked Out in Advance by
All American Principles and
Preecdents.

washington, Nov 6.--The secretary
of state today made the following state
men in regard to affairs on the Isthmus
Of Panama.
"The action of the president in the
Panama matter Is not only In the
strictest accordance within the prlnci-
pies Of justice and equity and in line
with all the best presidents Of our pub
lie policy, but II was the only course
he could have taken in compliance with
our treaty rights and obligations. by
our treaty, entered into with New
Granada In the year 1916, New Gran
ada guarantees that the right way
or transit across the isthmus OF Pana-
ma. upon any modes of communication
that now exist or that may be here
after constructed, shall be free and
open to the government and citizens
OF the United states
"Thls is a right which we acquire
bv the treaty, not gratituously con-
ferred, but In return for an important
compensation, for 10 the same article
the government of the United States
guarantees positively and eiicaciously
TO New Granada by the present stipu-
latlon The perfect neutrality of the
before mentioned isthmus with the
view that the free transit from the one
to the other sea may not be inter-
rupted or embarrassed in any future
time while this treaty exists; and in
consequence the United States guar
antees In the same manner the rights
of sovereignty and property which
New Granada has and possesses over
the said territory
THE close connection thus created
between the two governments was well
set forth by President Polk In his mes
sage transmitting the treaty to the
senate He said:
"'The Importance Of the concession
TO the commercial and political inter-
ests OF the United States cannot he
overrated The route by the isthmu9
Of Panama Is the shortest between the
two oceans, and from the Information
herewith communicated II would seem
to be the most practicable for rail-
road or canal. The vast advantages
to our commerce which would result
from such n communication, not only
from the west coast Of America, but
with Asia and the islands of the Pacific,
are too obvious to require any detail.
Such a passage would save us from
long and dangerous navigation of more
than 5000 miles around the Horn, and
render our communication with our
own possessions on the northwest coast
Of America comparatively easy and
speedy. The treaty does not propose
10 guarantee a treaty to foreign ma
ton In which the United States win
have no common interest with that ma
tlon on the contrary we are more
deeply and directly interested In the
subject of the guarantee than New
Granada herself or any other ooun'
try
These considerations, the controlling
nature OF which was at once recog
ni2ed 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
Philippines has given them IA greatly
enhanced validity. The control, In the
interest OF commerce and traffic OF the
whole civilized world OF the means OF
undsturbed transit across the sthinus
Of Panama has become of transcendent
Importance to the United States.
THE right to this control we have
never forfeited by any laAlty of our
own, either in the assertion of our
rights or in the performance of our
duty under the treaty, In 1853 Mr.
Everett assured the Peruvian minister