Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-01-25
WILL HOLD US RESPONSIBLE
FOR PANAMA DAMAGES.
President Roosevelt Transmits to
Senate Additional Correspondence
Between General Reyes and seere-
tary Hay Giving Latest Details Of
Situation at lstnmus.

Roosevelt transmitted to the senate
Yesterday the additional correspond
eace ON the relations Of the United
states with Colombia and Panama,
covering the period of December p,
1908. to January 8. last
A statement of the grievances on
the part of Colombia was presented
TO the state department by General
Reeves December %. General Reyes
saws that the course OF the United
States has worked deep injury 10 Co
lombia and he cited the treaty Of
1916 as showing tha. the independ-
euce and sovereignty OF Colombia
was f1 be maintained intact between
the two governments. General Reyes
deals infinitely with the various
phases of the questions az issue, and
In discussing the rejection Of the
Hay-Herran treaty by Colombia he
expresses the conviction that the
treaty would have been approved
with amendments that would prob
ably have been acceptable 10 the
United States had not the American
minister at BoEOta repeatedly de-
cIared in the most positive manner
that his government would reject any
amendments that night be offered"
Summing un General Reyes says that
Panama has become independent be
rausa the United States desired IL, be
cause with its 'mparably superior
force the United ates prevented the
landing of CClomb 4 troops; because
even before the separatists' move
meuts were known i'm BOgOta the
United States had its war vessels az
the entrance OF the Colombian ports
preventing the departure OF the Co
Iomblan battaIiOus: because without
regard TO precedent established By
the statesmen who have dealt with
this matter. the United States has
not respected our rights ia that strip
OF land which Colombia considers as
4 divine beguest for the innocent use
Of the American family OF the states.
and finally because the government of
the United States. invoking and put
ting into practice the right OF might,
has taken from us by a bl0Odless con
quest. but by conquest. nevertheless.
a most important part Of the national
territory
He then appeals 10 the sentiments
OF Justice animating the Unitnd States
20 act with wisdom In this crisis. and
concludes with the suggestion that
the matter he submitted 10 The Hague
tribunal
Secretary Hay ~apIied under date
o. January g. The questions submit
ted he SAYS. can be considered only
in the light of the accomplished facts
of which one IS that the republic of
Panama has become n member u the
family Of nations. He expresses mis-
surprise al the imuutsti0us upon the
conduct Of this government.
He says rhat the United States had
faithfully borne. during the period
since the treaty Cf 1896 was complet-
ed the fun burden Of its responsible
titles ~Mes1whflc.~ he confines.
the Ereat I-sjEn Of the treaty of
1856 remaIuel unfuIfueL. and in the
end 10 became apparent, as has here
tofore been shown, that il could be
FULFILLED only by the construction Of
canal BY the government Of the Unit
ed states. by reason Of the action OF
the government at BOgOta in rcpudi-
atinE the Hav-Herrau convention and
Of she views and int tions disclosed
I'm connection with that Reputation
the government was confronted. when
the revolution at Panama took place.
with the alternative OF either aban-
douing the chief benefit which e eX-
UeCted and was entitled TO derive
from the treaty OF 1876 or OF resorting
90 measures. the necessity Of which
&c could contemplate only with re-
EreL
by the declaration OF independence
of the republic Of Panama. a new stu
alton was created. On one hand stood
the governmental Colombia invOkingin
the name Of the treaty OF 1876 the aidof.
this government I'm its efforts 60 sup
press "a revolution: on the other hand
stood the republic Of Panama that had
come into being iu order that the great
design OF the treaty might not be for
ever frustrated but might be fulfilled.
The isthmUs was threatened with desc
ratfcu ~ another civil war. Nor were
the rights and interests Of the United
States alone at stake. The interests
of the whole civilized world were in
vcIved Tho republic OF Panama
stood for these interests. the Colon
b5au government opposed tGem. Com
PEELED to choose between these two
alternatives. the government q the
United States. en- no wise responsible
for the situation thar had arisen. dill
not hesitate To recognized the indie.
peudeuCe OF tie republic Of Panama
AMI upon it's judgment and action in
the emergency the powers Of the world
have set the seal of their approval"
Secretary Hay denies the validity OF
CoIomlia's complaints against the
United States He says that the
United States in common with the