The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-21
ROOSEVELT PANAMA LETTER
SPRUNG IN CARNEGIE HALL AS
DEMOCRATIC SURPRISE.

PuDllshed In Part Year AgOySenatOr
CuIbersOn OF Texas Says the "lnculpa-
tory" Parts We're Left Out Then, and
Pitches Into President About Panama.
A surprise relating to President Roose-
velt's attitude in the Panama secession
had been promised at the Reform Clubs
Parker meeting in Carnegie Hall last night.
1t proved to be this letter. which was de-
scribed az partly published before and as
written by President Roosevelt to DR..
Albert Shaw, editor OF the Reriep OF Re
vie,os, twenty-five days before Panama
seeded from Colombia:
Personal.
WASHINGTON. Oct, 10. 1908.
My DEAR Mr.. SHAW: / enclose you, purely
for your own information, copy OF letter
Of Sept. 8, from our Minister to Colombia.
| | think it might interest You to see that there
was absolutely not the slightest chance OF
securing by treaty any more than we en-
deavored to secure. The alternatives were
| to go to Nicaragua against the advice OF
| the great majority Of competent engineers
some Of the most competent saying that
| we had better have no canal at this time
| than 20 Thereon else to take the territory
| by force without any attempt at getting a
treaty. ! cast aside the proposition made
| ~ tDls lllt 10 IOmeHt tn6 beCesolOu VI
| Whatever other governments can do. the
! United states can not go into the securing.
| by such underhand means the cession
| Privately freely say to you that should
| be delighted II Panama were an independents
state. or if it made itself so at this moment;
but for me 20 say so publicly would amount
to an instlgation Of a revolt and Therefore
can not say it. With great regard. sincerely
! yours. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
~ raQA the
letter at the meeting, prefacing it with
the statement copy had been given to
him with assurances that although 1t was
personal it's publication in full was not
Objectionable. DR.. Shaw's magazine. he
said, had in October and November, 1908
pointed out with singular accuracy and
provision the course that this Govern
ment subsequently pursued. Then he said:
From this remarkable letter 1t seems
evident that when it was written the Presi-
dent was advised OF the contemplated
secession Of Panama, which eliminated
Nov. 3, 1908, and it is equally evident that
his information came from an authori-
tative source, for he considered and cast
aside proposition to foment the move
ment The proposition. moreover, ap-
pears to have been made not for individual
wise there would have been no occasion
tor the President to institute comparison
between the course Of this and other Gov
ernnents.
1T Is obvious, therefore, that the Ad-
ministration knew more than as a mere
rumor that the instruction was In process
Of development. and when this Is viewed
In connection with avowed sympathy.
the order to prevent the landing Of troops
| prior to its elimination, the hasty inquiry
OF the Navy Department before the up
rising, the policing Of the entire Isthmus
against the movement OF Colombian troops,
the perversion OF the treaty of ls4e and
the immediate cession Of the coveted terri
| tory and franchises, it is plain that the
Administration favored encouraged, aided
and consummated the rebellion and upon
it must rest the odum and responsibility.
while the letter in some respects is
characteristic Of the frankness and courage
for which the President is distinguished,
it exhibits also his rashness and his con-
temptuous disregard OF the rights of others
when his purposes are involved. Writing
privately to one who is publicly fomenting
secession, his restless ambition creates a
distinction between private and public
instigaton of conspiracy and revolution,
and contributes by his name and exalted
station to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of a
Republic
Som e other things Mr.. Cuberson said
were:
1t was this, spirit Of laxlessness, which
led the President In the disgraceful affair
territory Of weak and friendly nation with;
out authority and to make war upon 1t In
violation OF the Constitution. Indeed. this
transaction. above all others in bis career I
S restraint and his Unsuitable passion FOR per.
sonal and arbitrary goverpment. choosing
the aSs2e G The peS sSHs
respected neither legal bounds nor nstlonal
h illustrate not only his imperious and desPotio
nature, but the danger to the country which
stand Il It. for be sides want Of general nfor-
aton Upon the sI6ehGt NJ iaSts
the platforms Of both the Democratic and the
Republican, parties as well as the he, popuiiab5
only one opposing vote, passed bill pro-
vidnG for the combination Of an r. lsthmian
S %its v ~ INT the pabc is not vet fa@isr
corporation which subsidized the so-called
canal property upon the United States for
10000 an act Of Congress ". was sIn finally
was forced upon the Congress by the Pres-
dent, IL the basis OF eff orts to secure an 18TH
mian canal. and the President. in his course
with Colombia, defantly violated both its
letter and is spirit Withoutt reference rGaG
il is provided by that law that should the
President be unable within reasonable
time and upon reasonable terms to obtain
the necessary canal strip from Colombia by
treaty, then he should construct canal over
the Nicaragua route. The. President re-
fused to obey the statute and adopt the alter
native Nicaragua route, but TO emphasize
his contempt Of law or crafty his capri or
resentment or ambition. he waited. as he de.
clared in his message, for steps taken by
Panama" and after waiting seized the ter
ritory through a sham revolution. In reckless
disregard OF international law. as well as
nat ional and moral obligatio
| | accept IL as true that the executive officers
Of the Administration did not officially and
| publicly instigate the revolt In Panama
| but that the Administration. including the
President. privately favored and encouraged
the movement. and that this was widely known
lie susceptible OF demonstration. and In q
matteri of this character II was tantamount
TO committing the Government to IL.
DR.. Shaws private secretary said last
night that the letter read to the meeting
was published last November in one OF
Walter Welman's daily letters from Wash.
ington TO the Chicago Record Herald. 1t
had never been given out for publication