Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-10-20
ENVOY TO PANAMA.
Secretary Of War Taft Will
Go to Isthmus.
OLIVE BRANCH FOR THAT REPUBLIC
Roosevelt Sends Member of His Cab.
met to Renssure I%sthmians of Our
Good Intentions While Build
ing Great Canal.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.-The presi
dent has instructed Secretary of Wal
Taft to proceed at an early date to
Panama to confer with the president
of that republic with a view to dis
posing of the differences that have
arisen between the two countries.
The following letter has been sent by
the president to Secretary Taft after
a conference with the secretary of
state and the secretary of wal in re.
spect to the conditions in banana:
"By executive order of May 0, 1904,
l placed under your immediate p
vision the work of the isthniian canal
commission, both in the construction of
the canal and in the exercises of such
governmental powers as it seemed nee
essary for the United States to exer-
else under the treaty with the republic
of Panama in the canal strip. There
is ground for believing that in the
execution of the rights conferred by
the treaty the people of Panama have
been unduly alarmed at the effect of
the establishment of a government in
the canal strip by the commission.
apparently they fear lest the effect
be to create out of part of their terri
tory a competing and independent com
munity which shall injuriously affect
their business, reduce their revenues
and diminish their prestige as a nation.
The United States is about to confer on
the people of Panama a very great
benefit 6y the expenditure of millions
of dollars in the construction of the
canal. But this fact must not blind
us to the Importance of so exercising
the authority given us under the treaty
with Panama as to avoid creating any
suspicion, however unfounded, of orr
intentions as to the future.
"We have not the slightest intention
of establishing an Independent colony
in the middle of the state of Panama
or of exercising any greater govern
mental functions than are necessary TO
enable us conveniently and safely to
construct. maintain and operate the
canal under the rights given us by
the treaty.
Least of all do we desire to inter-
fere with the business and prosperity
of the people of Panama. However
far a just construction of the treaty
might enable us to go, did the eXigen-
cies of the case require it in asserting
the equivalent of sovereignty Owe" he
canal strip, it is our full intention 1t
the rights which we exercise shall be
exercised with all proper carr for the
honor and interests of the people of
Panama. The exercise of such pow
ers as are given us by the treaty with
in the geographical boundaries of the
republic of Panama may easily, If a
real sympathy for both the present
and future welfare of the people of
Panama is not shown, create distrust
of the American government.
"This would seriously interfere with
the success of our great project in that
country. 1t is of the utmost impor-
lance that those who are ultimately
responsible for the policy pursued
should have at first hand as trustwor-
thy information as can be obtained in
respect to the conditions existing in
Panama and the attitude and real in
terests of the people of that state.
"After a conference with the secre-
tary of state and yourself / have con-
cluded that it will be of great advan-
tage if you can visit the isthmus of
Panama in person and hold a confer
ence with the president and other gov
ernmental authorities of the republic
of Panama. You are authorized in do
ing this to take with you such persons
as you desire familiar with the condi-
tons in the isthmus who may aid you
with their counsel.
1.-The earlier you are able to make
this visit the better. The secretary of
state will instruct the United States
minister at Panama to render you ev-
cry assistance in his power, and the
governor of the canal strip, General
Davis, will of course do the same
thing. You will advise the president of
the republic what the policy of this
government is to be and assure him
that it is not the purpose of the United
States to take advantage of the rights
conferred upon it by the treaty to in
terfere with the welfare and prosperity
of the state of Panama or of the cities
of Colon and Panama"
While definite arrangements have not
yet been made for Secretary Tafts
trip, it is his purpose to go to Panama
on the army transport Sumner from
New York. Admiral John Walker will
go as a representative of the canal
commission, and Judge Charles Ma
COON, the law officer of the commission
and of the bureau of insular affairs,
will be of the party. The members of
the senate and house committees deal
ing with isthmian affairs will be in
vited. The entire trip, it is expected,
can be made inside of a month.