The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-01-04

dent Roosevelt's Panama message was de.
ivered to congress today. 1t exhaustive
ly reviews all actions taken regarding
canal matters and required 2s printed
pages, embodying reports, kilograms and
letters. Almost all of these have been
published from time to time.
The message opened by reviewing the
treaties covering southern countries.
Referring to Colombia the president
said at the time negotiations were offered
by the United States to Colombia the ad-
ministration was criticized as being too
liberal.
Colombia's objection to these negotia-
tions was based on the ground that the
idea of her relinquishing sovereignty over
the canal strip was an afterthought.
No nation, the president said, could con-
struct and guarantee the neutrality of
canal with a less degree of control than
that stipulated in the treaty. The refusal
to grant such degree of control was
necessarily a refusal to make any prac-
ticable treaty at ALL This refusal, there
fore, squarely raised the question whether
Colombia was entitled to bar transit
across the isthmus.
The people of Panama wanted America
to build canal. Furthermore, Colombia,
after having rejected the proffered treaty
despite our warnings and protests, has
since shown the utmost eagerness to ac-
cept the same treaty if only the status
quo could be restored.
Letters from high Colombia officials have
offered to carry the treaty through if
America would land troops at Panama and
compel recognition of Colombia sovereign
ty.
The president continues: "I will not for
one moment discuss the possibility of COM
mitting an act of such baseness as to
abandon the new Republic of Panama"
Regarding the Nicaragua route the ques-
ton of adopting it in reasonable time
after the rejection of the treaty by Co
iombia did not enter into the case at
ALL as within three days after the Colon
bian congress adjourned in October the
Panama revolution broke out. Panama
actually became an independent state and
the control of the canal strip then became
obtainable. Colombia had been treated
with all fairness and had repeatedly been
warned of the feeling on the Isthmus, but
gave no heed.
That Panama contemplated a revolution
was a matter of common notorietv. even
in the month of August. The president
here quotes numerous press dispatches
showing the condition of Isthmian feeling.
He also quotes report given by General
Young, who went to great pains to learn
the Panama situation, showing that enor-
nous quantities Of arms were in readiness
and that revolution would undoubtedly
follow any refusal of Colombia to ratify
the canal treaty.
The report made to General Young by
Captain Humphrey and Lieutenant Muir
ply, who visited Panama in September,
were mentioned. Young advised the presi-
dent of his interview with these officers
personally. They believed that a revolu-
ton might break out even before Colon
ba had time to ratify or reject the treaty.
They said there would certainly be revo-
luton if the treaty was rejected by 20
lombia. These opinions were conveyed to
the Colombian government.
The message later reviews the action OF
the Bogota authorities in firing on Pana-
ma and landing marines preventing free
and uninterrupted transit across the 18th
mus. The president quotes from the let
ter of Commander Hubbard.
A letter from Commander Hubbard Of
the cruiser Nashville. dated at Colon, No
yember 5, which is given. shows that be