Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-03
WILL NOT DISCUSS IT
OFFICIALS RETICENT REGARDING
MINISTER oBALDIA's STATEMENT
Alleged Oppression on the Isthmus by
This Government-Dr. Morales
Complaint.

State Department officials decline to dis
cuss any phase of the complaints made by
the representatives of the government Of
Panama against the alleged expressions by
the United States government on the 18th
mus of Panama in connection with the
construction of the canal
Senior J. D. Obaldia- the Panaman minis
ter, has filed with the State Department
statement of alleged violations of the treaty
by the United States in assuming control
of the canal strip. coupled with request
that the orders of Gen. Davis, governor OF
the canal zone be suspended pending set
tlement.
Alleged Wrongs.
The document recounts the alleged wrongs
and expressions; tells how the postal serv-
ice has been wiped out and how the United
States has established it's own postal serv-
ice within the canal zone, collecting rev.
enues in postage stamps which might 9TH
eEwise go to Panama: shows the operation
of the Dingley tariff act on all goods sent
from the interior of Panama across the line
of the canal zone, and speaks OF taxes on
summer homes of the towns of Panama and
Colon. which lie within the zone.
The document speaks of a convention that
is proposed by the people of Panama to
take action concerning these alleged OPP
pressions. and closes with these utterances:
MY government thinks that the United
States has not the purpose OF causing the
republic of Panama so great and irrepar-
able loss and injury. but, on the con-
trary. 1t is convinced that only an expos,
ton of it's troubles will be enough to change
the situation and to establish the founda-
tons of common life in which the inter-
| ests of both countries may be consulted
But before referring to the convention
on these points l have been instructed to
| ask your excellency Secretary Hay to
direct that all orders by the authorize s 10
| the canal zone in reference to powers OF
custom houses mails, etc, be stopped
pending a final agreement upon the issues
involved"
According to a statement made by Min
| lister Obaldia in New York last night, ne
was referred to Mr.. Barrett, the United
States minister to Panama, but that no
satisfaction had been obtained from ma
official 1.-The United States the minister
is quoted as saying, sis great and powerful
and Panama is a young and much weaker
republic but does this mean that the
washington administration shall be the
Judge, jury and the whole court?'
DR.. Morales Statement.
More details of the causes of Panama
dissatisfaction with the existing situation
are contained in a statement made by Er.
Eusebio A. Morales, former minister OF
state at Panama, and now in this country
as legal adviser of the Panaman legation.
Referring to the official complaint fled with
the State Department, Dr., Morales said IN
part:
"In response to our repeated protests we
have never received the slightest promise
that the evils we complain of shall be
stopped.
before the independence of Panama was
declared the promoters of the movement
had been assured that if successful in es-
tablishing the new republic they were to
obtain from the United States canal
,;,, to thn
which had been ratified by the American
Senate and rejected by Colombia"