The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-01-07
PRESIDENT AGAIN COMMUNICATES
TO CONGRESS.
Defends His Panama Policy, De-
MES That Administration Foo
mented Rebellion and Concludes
by Urging the Senate to Ratify
the New Treaty.


cess of more than two weeks, President
Roosevelt presented a message review
ing the entire Panama canal action of
the administration. The message con-
sisted of 2s printed pages, embodying
reports, kilograms and letters in refer
ence to canal affairs Almost all of
these documents have from time to
time been published.
President Roosevelt began his mes
sage by reviewing the treaties with
South American republics. Referring
10 Colombia, he said at the time the
negotiations in reference to the canal
were on, the administration was criti-
cised as being too liberal. Continuing,
he says Colombia's objection to the
treaty, based on the sovereignty of the
canal strip, was an afterthought. No
nation could construct and guarantee
the neutrality of the canal with a less
degree OF sovereignty or control than
that stipulat ed in the Hay-Herran
treaty, and the refusal to grant such
degree of control was necessarily re
fusal to make any practicable treaty.
The refusal, therefore, he says,
squarely raised the question of whether
Colombia was entitled to bar transit
across the isthmus.
The people of Panama wanted the
United States to build the canal. Fur
thermore, Colombia, after having re-
jected the treaty despite our warnings
and protests, has since shown the ut
most eagerness to accept the same
treaty if only the status quo could be
restored. Letters from high Colon
bian officials, accompanying the meg
sage, show that they have offered to
carry the treaty through if America
would land troops and compel the rec
IGNITION of Colombian sovereignty on
the isthmus. Reviewing these propos-
ais, the presidDet says: 81 will not
for one moment discuss the possibility
of committing an act of such baseness
as to abandon the new republic of Pan
anna"
Regarding the Nicaragua route, the
president says reasonable time after
the rejection of the treaty by Colombia
did not elapse, as within three days af-
ter the Colombian congress adjourned,
in October, the Panama revolution
broke out. Panama actually became an
Independent state, and control OF the
canal strip then became obtainable.
Colombia had been treated with all
fairness. Secretary Hay had repeated
ly warned Colombia of the feeling on
the isthmus, yet Colombia paid no
heed. That Panama contemplated
revolution was matter of common
notoriety even in the month of August.
The president here quotes numerous
press dispatches showing the condition
of isthmian feeling. He also quotes
the report gained by General Young,
who went to great pains to learn OF
the Panama situation. This report
shows that enormous quantities of
arms were in possession of the revolu-
tionists, and shows further that on the
entire isthmus great organization had
been effected and that a revolution
would undoubtedly follow any refusal
of Colombia to ratify the canal treaty.
A report made to General Young by
Captain Humphrey and Lieutenant
Marpby, who visited Panama in Sep.
TENDER, also accompanies the message,
and it is shown that General Young
advised President Roosevelt to inter-
view the officers personally, which he
did.
The president says these officers be-
lieved that revolution might break
out even before Colombia had time TO
ratify or reject the treaty. Thew said
a revolution was a certainty if the
treaty were rejected by Colombia.
The message later reviews the Colon
bian gunboat Bogota's firing on Pana-
ma and landing marines on the 18TH
mus.
The president quotes from letter
from Commander Hubbard, aboard the
cruiser Nashville, dated at Colon, De-
cember 8. The letter shows 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 Off
GERS, seized by the revolutionists on
the night before, were Immediately re-
turned to the Colombian lines. he
would kill every citizen of the United
States on the Iethmus. Hubbard then
landed marines on the isthmus.
Tine message says Hubbard's prompt
action was to prevent great loss of
life and property, as we'll as to protect
our citizens. 1t says that all the insin.
nations to the effect that the United
States had completely in the revolution
are as destitute of foundation as of
propriety. No one connected with this
government Lad any part in preparing,
melting or encouraging the revolution,
nor had the government any knowledge