The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-20
PANAMA AFRAID
OF ITS OLD PAL
President Will Send Secretary
Taft to The Isthmus.
LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS
NECESSITY OF MAKING HASTE
URGED.
IAIAsHNGToN. Oct. 1s-rbe Dr..,-

| "ai Idlt 10 proceed, at an earlv
date, to Panama TO confer with The
president of that republic with view
to composing the differences that have
arisen between the two countries.
The following letter has been sent bv
the president to the secretary Of VA
] after a conference with the secretary
OF state and the secretary Of war i'm re-
spect TO the conditions in Panama:
Undue Alarm.
white House. Washington oct -
/ ls94.-Sir: BY executive order of Nav
! 9, 1904. 1 placed under your immediate
/ supervision the work Of the isthmisD
/ canal commission both in the coustr11c-
/ tlon of the canal and I'm the exercise OF
/ such governmental powers as IL seemed
/ necessary for the United states TO ex-
+ ercise under the treaty with the re-
I pubic Of Panama in the canal strip.
1 Ihere Is ground for believing that I'm
! the execution Of the rights conferred
\ by the treaty the PEOPLE of Panama.
/ have been unduly alarmed Al the erect
/ Of the establishment of A government
/ IN the canal strip by the commission
/ Apparently they fear lest the effect be
/ 10 create out of part Of their territory
I a competing and independent communf-
/ ~ which shall injuricusly affect their
/ business, reduce their revenues and d.
mlnish their prestige as a nation.
Sovereignty Over Strip.
'The United States is about to confer
I OH the people Of the state Of Panama a
+ very great benefit by the expenditure
/ Of millions of dollars in the construc-
] ton of the canal But this fact must
not blind us 10 the importance of ex-
erclSlng the authority given us under
the treaty with Panama as to avoid
creating any suspicion. however IN
+ founded, of our intentions as to the
future. We have not the slightest in
tentiOn of establishing an independent
colony in the middle Of the state OF
Panama, or of exercising any greater
governmental functions than are nee
essary 10 enable US conveniently and
safely 70 construct. maintain and Cd
crate the canal, under the rights given
US by the treaty. Least Of all do we
desire TO interfere with the business
and prosperity Of the people of Pan
anna However far a Just construction
Of the treaty might enable Us 10 60.
did the eXigencies or the case require
II. in asserting the equivalent OF SOW
ereignty over the canal strip, il is our
full intention that the rights which we
exercise shall be exercised with all
proper care for 1he honor and interests
of the people Of Panama
Have Treaty Rights.
The exercise of such powers as are
given US by the treaty within the geo
graphical boundaries Of the republic
OF Panama may easily. if q real sym
pathy for both the present and future
welfare Of the people Of Panama is not
shown. create distrUst of the American
government. This would seriously in
TnTfpra he ,e
project in that country. II is of the
utmost Importance that those who are
ultimately responsible for the policy
pursued should have at first hand as
trustworthy information as can be OBJ
tanned i'm respect TO the conditions eX-
isting in Panama and the attitude and
real interest of the people Of that state.
After a conference with the secretary
of state and yourself. have concluded
that it viii be OF great advantage il
you can visit the Isthmus Of Panama
in person and hold a conference with
the president and other governmental
authorities of the republic Of Panama.
You are authorized i'm doing this 20
take with YOU such persons as You de-
sire, familiar with the conditions IN
the isthmUs. who may aid You with
their counsel.
Early Action Desirable.
THE earlier YOU are able TO make
this visit the better. The secretary
of state Will instruct the United States
minister at Panama 10 render YOU ev-
cry assistance N his power. and the
governor of the canal strip, General
Davis. VIII, Of course. do the same
thing. You VIII advise the president
Of the republic what the policy of this
government is TO be. and assure him
that il is not the purpose of the United
states TO take advantage of the rights
conferred upon II by the treaty TO in
terfere with the welfare and prosperity
OF the state Of Panama, or Of the cities
Of Colon and Panama. You viii make
due report of the result of your visit
on your return. Very truly yours.
THEODORE ROCSEE Ell.
Ito the Secretary Of War
Senior Obaldia minister OF Panama
to the United states, held confer
ence with the secretary Cf state and
secretary Of war subsequent 90 the re-
ceipt Of this letter. and the secretary
of war invited the minister 10 accom-
pany him on his trip 10 Panama. II Is
impossible TO say exactly when the sec
rotary of war can leave for Panama,
but probably on Nov IA
Large Party Going
While definite arrangements have not .
yet been made for Secretary Tatts
trip. il is his purpose TO go TO Panama
on the army transport Sumner from
New York Secretary Taft is author
lied by the president 10 take with him
Whenever he pleases in connection
with the work at hand. and while the
personnel of the party has not YET
been arranged 10 is thought IL viii pe
a large one. Representing Panama VIII
be Minister Obeldia. Admiral John y
Walker will go as a representative OF
the canal commission Judge ChafleS
Magoon. the law officer Of the comAlis-
sion and of the bureau Of lnsular al
fairs who has been OF much assistance
in framing orders and regulations Tor
the canal strip. also viii be OF the par
~ The members of the senate and
house committees dealing with 18TH
milan affairs will be invited, and as the
entire trim. il is expected, can De made
inside of a month, and little legislation
IS expected within the first Two weeks
of the approaching session or congress,
il is believed the committeeman VIII
find time to make the trip one reason
why Secretary Taft desires the com
mittees attendance Is because ne
that as they must leglslate Iof the mex
tel, wears concerning the canal Slrlp
tbe,- VIII he better qualified for this
important work by personal Know
elee ~ conditions on the isthmus-
There were rumors Immediately on
the puhlication of the presidents lei
ter 10 the effect that Secretary Tafts
tri,, was caused by friction between
the three controlling clements in the
isthmus the Panama government the
American minister and the canal COM
mission mt secretary Taft explicitly