The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-10-26
TAFT WILL GO 10 PANAMA
10 Confer With President Of the Re-
public.
NOT TO INTERFERE WITH PANAMA.
Action Taken by President Roosevelt After
Conference With Secretary Of War and
Secretary Of State-Unlted States Has
No Intention Of Creating on Independent
Colony

SOtO0y.
Washington. D. c. Especially Sec.
retary Taft will go to Panama mex,
month to confer with the Presiden.
and other officials Of that republic or
the questions arising out of the pos.
session by the United States Of the
canal zone. The President and hio
Cabinet have been considering for
somtime the reported feeling in Pan
anna against the United States, and
carly this week William Nelson Crom.
well, OF New York, general counsel
OF the new Panama Canal Company,
was requested to come here for con
ference with the President
The result was a thorough discus.
sion OF the situation in the isthmus
and at the Cabinet meeting it was de.
cided to send Secretary Taft to Pan
anna on a special mission to settle and
adjust any and all questions arising
out Of this governments possessios
Of the canal zone
This is the first time in the history
of this country that a Cabinet officer
49, DNNh SNilt on al ms
sion to negotiate with foreign pow.
er. TIE announcements. however, has
met with general approval in all circles
today. Especially is this so in regard
to Panama itself. Senor Obaldia. the
Panama minister to Washington, is
particularly pleased with the Pres;.
dents act
The following letter was sent by
the Pee 'dnn, ,i,, s Mo-
after conference with the Secretary
OF State and the Secretary OF Wa.
in respect to the conditions in Pan
anna
White House.
Washington. October I3, 1904.
Sir: By executive order of May o
1904, placed under your supervi-
sion the work of the Isthmian Canal
Commission, both in the construction
of the canal and i'll the exercise OF
such governmental powers as it seem.
ed necessary for the United States
to exercise under the treaty with the
Republic of Panama in the canal strip.
There is ground for believing tina,
iii the execution of the rights con.
terred by the treaty the people OF
Panama have been unduly alarmed az
NiN N''NSt VI iue CSldDllSIlllltllt vi ~
government in the canal strip by the
commission. Apparently they fear les,
the effect be to create out of part ot
their territory competing and indie
pendent community which shall inju
riously affect their business. reduce
their revenues and diminish the pres,
tige as a nation.
No Independent Colony.
The United States is about to con.
fer on the people Of the State of Pan.
anna very great benefit by the ex.
penditurc of millions OF dollars in the
construction of the canal. But this
fact must not blind us to the impor.
tance of so exercising the authority
given Us under the treaty with Pan
anna as to avoid creating any suspicion,
however unfounded, of our interio iona
as to the future. We have nc; the
slightest intention of establishin., ar
independent colony in the middle OF
the State OF Panama, or OF exercising
any greater governmental functions
than are necessary to enable us con-
veniently and safely to construct,
maintain nd.operate 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 Panama.
Conference With President.
1t is OF the utmost Importance that
those who are ultimately responsible
for the policy pursued should have
at frst hand as trustworthy informa-
ton as can be obtained in respect to
the conditions existing in Panama and
the attitude and real interest OF the
people of that state. After a confer1
ence with the Secretary of State and
yourself | have concluded that it will
be OF great advantage if You can visit
the lsthmus of Panama in person and
hold conference with the president
and other governmental authorities Of
the Republic of Panama. You are au.
thorized in doing this to take with
you such persons as you desire fam.l.
lar with the conditions in the sthmus,
who may aid you with their counsel
The earlier you are able to make this
visit the better. The Secretary d
State will instruct the United States
Minister at Panama 10 render you
every assistance :r 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 il by the treaty
to interfere with the welfare and pros
pcrity of the State of Panama or Of
the cities of Colon and Panama. You
will make due report of the result of
your visit on your return. Very truly
yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
To the Secretary of War.
Senior OBADIAH, minister of Panama
to tic United States, held confer
ence with the Secretary of State and
Secretary of War subsequent to the
receipt of this letter, and the Secrc-
ta-y OF War invited the Minister to
accompany him on his trip to Pam
anna. .~zz.q
"Polsou Squad" Ready Again.
Washington, d. c. (SpeciaD. The