Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-01-08

Presidents Canal MESSAGE

:
PRESIDENT Roosevelt has laid before
CONGRESS special message regarding
the lsthmlan canal. The Presidents ar
euneht may be summarized as follows:
Coiombla's refusal to ratify the Hay
Hefran treaty was part of scheme to
conhscate the property of the French
cahal company and so obtain the
S400OO,oo0 authorized by the act of Con
gress of 1902 to be paid for the property
OF that company, in addition. to the COM
pensation to be paid by the United States
for the privilege of completing the canal.
This was not only contrary to the inter
ests of the United States, but it would
have involved Colombia with France, a
friendly nation, against whose interfer-
ehce we should have been compelled by
the treaty of 1916 to interpose thus in
vltlng a serious war AS Colombia was
mus acting in bad faith with us, we
were no longer bound to act in good faith
with her
As matter of fact, however, we did
Keep faith with Colombia as long as it
was possible to do SO. Under the treaty
OF 1o46 our sole duty was to guarantee
the neutrality of the isthmus and to keep
interoceanic traffic free and uninterrupt-
ed, and in landing troops on the isthmus
during the revolution that is all we did.
AS between the Colombians and the rev.
otutonists our troops maintained strict
neutrality.
The general rule is sound that new
state should not be recognized as indie
pendent till it has shown it's ability to
maintain it's independence. But there are
exceptions, and this was one of them.
Our departure from the rule was justi-
fed by three reaSons-yiZ., our treaty
rights, our national interests and safety,
and the interests of collective civilization.
After discussing these reasons in elab-
crate detail, the President says:
''In my opinion no disinterested and
fair-minded observer acquainted with
the circumstances can fail to feel that
Panama had the alnplest justification for
separation from Colombia under the con-
ditions existing. and moreover that its
action was in the highest degree bene-
fetal to the interests of the entire civil
lied world by securing the immediate op-
Fertunity for the building of the inter
oceanic canal"
But, says the message in effect what
ever may be thought of the action taken
by the administration, whatever was
done has been done and cannot be un-
done. Meanwhile, the only question now
before us is the ratification of the treaty
1.-The question, and the only question:
says the President lis whether or not
we shall build an isthmian canal"
The 1Tes.ag2 in Detail.
The message begins by recalling the act
of Congress Ito provide for the construc.
ton of a canal connecting the waters OF
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans approved
June %, 1902. This act provided that the
President should obtain the property of
the Panama Canal Company and the per
petual control of strip six miles VIDE
across the isthmus Of Panama "This con
troll" says the message, NE now peen
obtained the provision Of the act has been
complied wisA Then are quoted again
the words of Secretary Lewis CasS IN 1928
quoted in the laat annual message 20 ne tle
effect that the local government or the
isthInus has no right TO 'cose the gates or
intercourse on the great highways Oh me
world by the pretension that
these avenues of trade and travel belong 70
Them" Quotation is also made or the Sen
ate resolution, passed in 1889, when 1t was
proposed that France should guarantee the
government of the United States VIII look
with serious concern and dlsapproVal upon I
any connection Of any European govern
ment with the construction CT cohtrol VI
anv ship canal across the lsthmus OF
Darien or across Central America, ana
must regard any such connection or con,
q
interests Of the United States and as a
menace TO their welfare.
Treaty Was Too Generous.
"Trder the Hay paunccfote treaty, the
message continues, 1T was eNpicltly Dry
vided that the United states shoqiu t con,
vas TO be built keeping 1t open Tor Inc
vessels of all nations on equal terms: Inc
United States thus assumed me po5leao caf ~
Esa Inv all the world. The guaranty III
Guided as a matter CT course the building
of the canal. 20 4to
uoy-Herran treaty. showing that 1t erreu
on the side Of oyergeneroSlty TO CoioIlpia,
ond That II was indeed, so fine thlng Tor
Colombia that after having reJecseu 49, ,ne
trentv I'm spite of our protests ana Waru-
ings when It was In her power to accept IT,
colombia has since shown the utmost eager ger
ness to accept dn the be s' restored Then fol
lows significant sentence pass ny
Tho question as to what assurance we nave
that they would now keep their pleuge
I'D not AGAIN refuse to ratify the treaty
If they had the power, for. OF course,
viii not for one moment discuss me possi7
bility of the United States commattlns AN an
net of such basenesS as TO apaAuoi 'ne
new republic of Panama
Auticinating the Revolution.
Now the message shows that It Is no
LANCER possible, under existing legislator,
to consider constructing t1e ea nn,on1, or
nothing. Such being the ease, when II pc
came apparent that co'm fha p TaS eDi IN
t luz e so consult the Congress as to
whether It would not, not be be b pr0PE nr
% t,n-itb. thaf we would give the terms
had offered and not no as ofesis to "e
llal ,i - o,,to,. into an arrangement with Pan
e ~oaiG direet, or take what other steps were
needful in order to begin the enferp dIrso
The revolution In Panama, OF course,
;ad LIE his unnecessary. but the point Is
that revouon or no eyo Ht 5se the a cfeal
Ggi;e foct - he President hints. is proof
ao the the 9 pa1ouon Sboa h'u 3s
hana ~ ~ - af course. the government had
ne staff da1 of f fer frdn IN raha
MA; but M; =; f - chat was not pro-
It ndo nv ~ the newspapers and was there
foFe asr Of atoas d PGSoT'sS A as
uotlJ published in August, SeptelNpef
ppnI october. ail announcing that r9Soi avon;
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