Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-04

l
| generosity towards the Colombian gov
| erninent
| Third. Finally the congress def
nitely settled where the canal was to
he built. 1t was provided that treaty
/ should be made for building the canal
| across the isthmus of Panama: and III.
after reasonable time. it proved inn
| possible TO secure such n treaty, that
then We should go to Nicaragua The
treaty has been made: for Ii needs no
| argument TO show that the intent OF
| the congress was to secure a canal
across Panama. aud sihat hethsr the
| repabiic granting the title was called
NV Granada. Colombia or Panama
mattered not one whit.
Thought Of "Builins" It Thru.
when N August it began to appear
| probable that the Colombian leg.s,a-
| ture would not ratify the treaty II be-
came incumbent upon me to consider
we'll what the situation was and to be
| ready to advise the congress as to what
were the various alternatives of action
| omen to US There were several possi-
! hih.iss. One WAS that Colombia woule
at she last moment see the unwfsdom
| OF her position.
TT was the opinion o. eminent inte--
rational jurists that in view of the
fact that the great design of our guar
antea under the treaty of 1916 was To
dedicate the sthmus TO The purposes or
| interoceanic transit, and above ali to
secure the construction of an inter-
oceanic canal, Colombia could not un-
der existing conditions refuse to enter
into a proper arrangement with the
i, United States 10 that end. without vio-
iating the spirit and substantially re-
pudiat!ng the obligations of treaty
the full benefits OF which sha had en-
Joyed for over fifty years. My inten-
tion WAS 10 consult the congress as to
whether under such circumstances 1t
! would not be proper to announce tha,
| the canal was TO be dug forthwith,
that we would give the terms That We
had offered and no Others; and that II
such terms were not agreed to We
would enter into an ARRANGEMENT with
Panama direct. or take what other
steps were needful in order to begin
the enterprise.
IA third poesibi,sv was that the
people OF ine isthmus, who had former
I Is constituted an independent state.
and vino until recently were united TO
Colombia only by loose tile of fed
eral relationship, might take the pro-
lection OF their own vita; interests Into
their own hands. reasse.t their forinsr :
rights. declare their Independence upon
lust grounds. and establish 4 govern
rent competent and willing to do iis
share In this great work for civiliza-
ton This third possibility Is wna;
act.ai'y occurred
Then follows newspaper clippings.
war department telegrsins and other
reports which show conclusfvely tina,
the revolution was the direct resul.
of Cblombias failure to ratify the
canal treaty which Panama considerai
vital to her welfare. U. s. gunboa.s
were not ordered to South American
waters until after news of revolution
ary uprisings had appeared in the
newspapers and then failed to arrive
IN time to protect American interests
had not the small force there bean
handled with the utmost Judgment and
discretion.
Were Ordered for Police Duty.
The following Instructions were sent
to the commanders of the Bostor.
Nashville and Dixie:
Maintain free and uninterrupted
transit. II interruption is threatened
by armed force occupy the line of
railroad. Prevent landing of any armed
force with hostile intent. either gov
ernment or insurgent. at any point
n - Do, v,ny
ment force reported approaching the
isthmus in vessels. Prevent their
landing IT, In your Judgment. the
landing would precipitate con-
fiict.
Same Thing Done Before.
These orders were delivered III pur-
suance of the policy on which our
government had repeatedly acted. This
policy was exhibited in the following
orders, given under somewhat similar
circumstances last year, and the year
before. and the year before that. The
first two kilograms are from the de-
partment of state to the consul 1T
Panama.:
July %. 1900.
You are directed to protest agains:
any act of hostility which may Involve
or imperil the safe and peaceful trans
III of persons or property across the
Isthmus of Panama. The lombard
ment of Panama would have this effect.
and the United States must insist upon
the neutrality of the isthmus as guar
anteed by the treaty.
November 90, 1901.
Notify all parties molesting or IN
terfering with free transit across the
tsthmus that such interference must
cease and that the United States VIII
prevent the interruption of traffic upon
the railroad Consult with captain Of
the Iowa. who will be instructed 20
land marines, II necessary. for the pro-
lection of the railroad. in accordance
with the treaty rights and obligations
of the United States. Desirable 10
avoid bloodshed, if possible.
Closing his exhibits of kilograms and
orders the president says:
This plain official account of the oc-
ieurrences OF Nov. 4 shows that. tn-
s.ead of there having been too much
provision by the American government
FOR the maintenance of order ard the
protection of life and property on the
sthmus. the orders for the movement
If the American warships had been too
song de,ayed; SO long, In fact. that
here were but forty-two marines and
sailors available to land and protect
10 l;vac nf A,ne erjcap men and women.