The sun., 1903-11-05

'o'aio tibic NIilo iulb treaty exists, and, II
consequence, the United States also guar.
antee In the same manner the rights OF
sovereignty and property which New
hrenada has and possesses over the sale
territory"
In previous political disturbances in
colombia, when the United States Govern.
ment deemed it necessary to land marines
and bluejackets on the Isthmus to carry
out the obligations imposed by the treat y
OF ls46, the preservation of free transit
between Colon and Panama was re-
garded as all that was necessary on the
part of those troops. The Government
troops and the insurgents were permit ed q
night it out on the Isthmus so long as they
did not interrupt railway traffic. Still,
there was sort OF lrnderst anding, on the
! part OF the Colombian Government at
| least, thai the landing of United 81 ed
armed forces was for the purpose of pre-
serving the sovereignty of Colombia over
the lsthmus and not merely to see that
trains went along on schedule time.
In the great rebellion of 1885. the CO.
lombian Government asked the United
States to send troops to the Isthm,.s "to
maintain harmless the rights and authority
OF the Colombian Government in the State
OF Panama until Colombian troops could
reach there. 1t was expressly stated that
this request was made under the obliga-
ton assumed by the United States in the
treaty OF 1S46. Marines were sent to the
lsthnus, but they confined themselves to
preventing interruption of railway traffic.
1t now seems TO be the fact that The United
States Government will carry out the spirit
~ the letter of the treaty of 1S48, under
lie Interpretation that the clause relating
TO the neutrality Of the Isthmus means
that American national forces must stop.
all disorder and fighting, even to the eX-
tent OF preventing the Colombian Govern
ment troops from attacking the sspara
fists. That is a fair assumption from the
instructions 10 naval commanders to pre-
serve peace and prevent bloodshed on the
ls.hmus in addition to securing free traffic.
TO STOP ALL FIGHTING.
At first glance, this policy Of the Admins
tration would appear to mean that the
lsthmiaa separatists were not to be per-
mtted to fight for their cause and that the
Colombian Government was to be upheld
in its nominal control OF the State OF
Panama. But il is subject to another
Interpretation, which puts quite different
aspect on the matter. The saparatists
hold Panama. If the United States still
refuses 10 let Colombian loyal forces attack
them. Panama will remain in possession
of the srparatists. The Colombian troops
control Colon, on the Atlantic side of the
Isthlnus If the saparatists are not TO be
permitted to attack these loyal troops, Colon
will remain in possession of the Govern
men.
This seems ridiculous situation Two
rival factions, each with troops, arms and
ammunition at its command, want to fight
il out, but stronger power prevents. So
each faction will, 1t is to be surmised. retain
control Of portion of the territory in dis
pute until mutual settlement N aEEsnGed..
or the United States forces are Withdrawn.
Carrying out such a policy in an honest
manner, it would be necessary for the United
States to prevent the landing of Colombian
troops on the Isthmus because their presence
ashore would bring them in conflict with
the sepsratist forces. The separatists,
being on the Iethmus, could occupy as much
territoryas was not held by the Government,
and the Government is said TO hold Colon
only.
That such an attitude is to be maintained
by the United States is difficult to believe
yet it is fair Inference from what was
said guGrdcdly to-day by oflicials who are
familiar with what has been ard is being
determined in the councils of the Admins
tration. Ono ingenious explanation of the
Governments supposed course. an entirely
unotficia! explanation, is that with the
separatists holding Panama and most OF
tho lsthmus and safe from attack by the
loyal troops, they will set up govern
mcnt and after administering it for several
months will ask for and obtain recognition
from the United States.
Then the independent Isthmian republic
will max" treaty for the building of the
Panama Canal by the United States. This
is mere s,lrmise. but il is not beyond the
bounds of possibility granted that the
American forces will not allow any fighting
on the Isthmus and will preserve the present
political status.
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS CONFER.
There were conferences galore to-day
between State Department officials and
Navy Department officials. Capt. {. b.
Humphrey and Lieut.. +. p. '. Murphy,
two army officers who came back 20 Wash
ington recently from a secret mission 10
the Isthmus and were reported to have
brought some important news, had talks
with Acting Secretary of the NAVY Darling
and Rear Admiral Taylor, who took them
over to the State Department.
DR.. Herrar. the Colombian Charge
d'Affaires, was at the State Department
attending meeting of the executive COM
mittee of the Bureau OF American Repub-
lies, but he did not discuss the Panama
situation with the Department officials.
a line from his Government.
The State Department was disposed
to-day to feel offended over statement
sent from Washington to THE SIN that the
Department knew that an outbreak was
going to occur on the Isthrnus. The De-
partment thought this meant that it was
accused of being concerned in the plot Of
the separatists.
1t was not SO meant. The Department
acknowledged that it had reason to believe
that there was unrest in the Is'hmNs which
might result in an uprising The fact that
the gunboat Nashville left Kingston,
Jamaica. last SATURDAY. for Colon, and the
additional fact that the training ship Dixie
was hurried of to the West Indies more
than a week ago and ordered from King
ston to Colon, with 400 marines aboard.
before news of the Panama outbreak
reached here, indicate how well convinced
the Government was that something was
going to happen on the Isthmus,
COLOMBIAN coNsrD HERE NOT NOTIFIED.
Se1or Arturo de BriRard, Consul-Gen-
erel of Colombia in this city, who is a
nephew Of President Marroquin, has re-
ceived no official news of the uprising, and
Yesterday cabled for informal ion. His
only comment was: The affair looks seri-
Gus,