The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-01-06
MESSAGE ONPANAMA
SUBMITTED
President Says tie Will Not
Be SO Base As to Abandon
It-Message Reviewed

washington, Jan. 5.-1ne president ;
Panama message, reviewing canal ac-
tion was delivered to congress today.
The message occupied twenty Eight
printed pages embodying reports. tele-
grams and letters. Nearly all of the
latter have been published heretofore
from time to time.
The message opens with a review of
the treaties covering the southern
countries. Referring to Colombia 1t
says that at the time the negotiations
were offered with Colombia the ad-
ministration was criticised for being
too liberal. The objection raised by
colombia. based on the ground of
the canal. strip, was an afterthought.
No nation could construct and guar
lntee the neutrality of the canal with
1 less degree of control than that stip-
alated in the treaty. A refusal to grant
such a degree of control was neces-
sarily a refusal to make any practic-
able treaty at all Refusal the -efoTe
squarely raised the question whether
Colombia was entitled to bar transit
across the isthmus.
The people of Panama wanted Am
erica to build the canal. Furthermo e
Colombia after having rejected the
treaty despite our warnings ard p~o-
tests. has since shown the utmost Gag
eIness to accept the same treaty If
only the status quo could be restored
Letters from high Colombian officials
offered to carry the treaty through If
America would land troops to compel
recognition of Colombian sovereignty.
WILL STAND BY PANAMA.
The president says; II viii not for
one moment discuss the possibility #
such an act of baseness as to abandon
the new republic of Panama"
Regarding the Nicaragua route ques-
tion a reasonable time after the reJec-
tion Of the treaty by Colombia did not
enter as within three days after the
Colombian congress adjourned in Oc-
tober the Panama revolution broke out
Panama actually became an inde-
pendent state and control of the canal
treaty strip then became obtainable-
Colombia had been treated in all fair
ness. That Panama contemplated a
revolution was a matter of common
notoriety even in the month of Aug
ust.
The president here quotes numerous
press dispatches showing the cond :
ton of isthmian feeling. He also
quotes a report gained by General
Young, who went to great pains to
learn the Panama situation, showing
that enormous quantities of arms
were in possession of the revolutionisJs
of the entire isthmus, an organization
had been effected and that revolution
would undoubtedly follow any refusal
of Colombia to ratifv the canal treaty.
Report was made to General Young by
Captain Humphrey and Lieutenant
Murphy, who visited Panama in Sep
tember. General Young advised Roose-
welt TO interview the officers personally
which he did The officers believed
that revolution might break out even
before Colombia had time to rat
ify or reject the treaty. They said
there was certain to be revolution If
Secretary Hay had repeatedly given
wal ming of the feeling on the isthmus
yet Colombia gave no heed.
The message later reviews the Bo-
gota's firing on Panama and the land
ing of marines to insure free un nter-
ruption of transit across the isthmus.
The message quotes from the letter
.l.a1 s@ct tIc0
Nashville, dated Colon, November s..
TO show that before the United States
made any attempt to restore order
General Torres practically declared
war on American citizens by saying
that unless two Colombian officers
seized by revolutionsts the night be-
tore were Immediately returned to
Colombian lines he would kill every
citizen of the United States on the
isthmus. Commander Hubbard then
landed marines. The message says
that Hubbard promp action saved
great loss of life and property as well
as furnished p. otection to our citizs ms.
The message says that all insinua-
tions that the United States had COM
pliclty in the revolution are as des-
utute of foundation as of propriety
No one connet tied with this govern
ment had any part in preparing, incit-
ing or encours aging the revolution nor
had the government any knowledge
that a revolution was imminent except
such as was a ccessible to any person
of ordinary Intelligence who reads
newspapers.
The plesdel IT continues: Il have
not denied nor do | wish to deny either
the validity CIR the propriety of the
general rule that new states should
not be recogr sized as Independent unsn
they have sh' own their ability to main
tain their ind ependence. But there are
exceptions to- all rules and there We're
in my opinion clear and imperative