The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-05

of which would be found IN an inter.
oceanic canal, 70 the accomplish.
ment Of this object the government
Of the United States has for years dl-
rected it's diplomacy"
|. The president SAW that long before
the conclusion OF the Hay -Herran
treaty the couruc ofcvents had shown
that canal must be built by the
United States, or not 40 al Never.
theless, when the ll-eonsl,lcrcd
agreement was rejected ny Colombia
and the revolution had ensued, one OF
colomhla'a first acts has been 10 invoke
the intervention ut the United States
1T was" continues the president,
under these circumstances that the
United States, instead OF using its for
ces to destroy those who sought to
make the engagements of the treaty
a reality. recognized them as the prop.
rr custodlans OF the sovereignty of the
isthmus.
This recognition was further justi-
fed by the highest considerations OF
our national interests In safety, In
all the range of our International re-
iations. l do not hesitate to affirm that
there IN nothing OF greater or more
pressing Importance than the con-
struet'on OF an lnteroceanlc canal,
Lang Acknowledged to be essential 10
our commercial development, u has
become. as result OF the recent cx.
tension Of our territorial dominion.
more than ever essential to our natlon-
al self defense.
The establishment OF easy and
speedy communication by sea between
the Atlantic and Pacific presents Itself
not simply as something 10 be desired
but as an object TO be positively and
promptly attained. Reasons of con-
venience have been superseded by rca
sons OF Vital necessity which do not
admit OF indefinite delays"
II The president then cites the fact tha,
the Panama canal committee OF the
Colombian senate had. on October Il
last, recommended that the discussion
OF law 10 authorize the government
to enter upon new negotiations be In
definitely postponed. that the subject
be deferred until October. 1904. ny
that time. the committee urged, the
extension Of time granted to the new
Panama company By treaty IN iSsa
would have expired and the new con.
gress 10 meet In October. 1904 By
he In position to take up the question
whether the company had NOT, In spite
OF further extension that had been
granted by Legislative acts, forfeited
Its property and rights,
When that time arrives. the ~.
port significantly declares says the
president, the republic, without any
impeachment. win bc able 10 contract
and viii be In more clear, more definite
and more advantageous possession
both legally and materially"
The construction OF the cnnal," the
president says, was 10 he releHatcd
to the indefinite future, while Colom-
bia was. by reason OF her own delay
TO be placed In the more advnntng.
eous position OF claiming not merely
by compensation to be paid by the
y United States for the privilege OF com
: pletlng the canal. but also the $40,
100000 authorized by the act Of 1909 "a
De paid for the property Of the new
Panama canal company. That the al.
tempt to carry out this scheme would
have brought Colombia into conflict
with the government Of France cannot
be doubted. nor could the United
! States have counted upon immunity
from theuqnoscneeais'ic 'icnh. d. yetaoIn
from the consequences of the attack
even apart from the indefinite delayi
to which the construction OF the cana
J. was to be subjected. on the first ap.
pearance OF danger TO Colombia thl,
, government would have been summon.
, ed TO interpose. In order TO give effect
to the guarantees Of the treaty OF 1896
and all this In support OF a plan which
/ characterizes In its first stage by the
: wanton disregard OF our own hghes
interests was fitly TO end In furthel
! injury to citizens OF friendly nation
whose enormous losses In their gener.
Gus efforts TO pierce the isthmus hav,
! become matter Of history.
Il confidently maintain that the rec.
: ognition Of the republic OF Panama wal
an act justified by the interests Of col.
lective civilization. II ever govern.
ment could be said to have received &
mandate from civilization to effect az
object the accomplishment OF which
was demanded in the interests OF man.
kind, the United States holds that DO.
sitlon with regard to the interoceani,