Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-01-06
DIDN'T |NST|GATE REVOLT
President Sends Message to Con-
gress Regarding Panama.
JUSTIFIES RECOGNITION
Press Had Given Administration Most Of
It's knowledge of Conditions on
Isthmus Before Revolution.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 4.-President
Roosevelt has submitted to Congress
copies of the correspondence that passed
between the state department and Pan
anna concerning the revolution and canal
treaty. He adds to this information ali
explanatory message on the attitude or
the administration toward Panama,
it's purposes in connection with
the canal legislation and "its re-
sponsibilities to the world Plain
ly, the President says that the
idea Of deserving Panama under the
be considered even for moment "
THE recognition of Panama as an in
dependent republic is an established
fact" he says, land the only question
actually before this government is wheth-
er or not we shall build an lsthmlan
canal"
Denies Charges.
Relative to the charges that this gov
eminent was q party to the revolution,
the President says:
l hesitate to refer to the injurious in
situations which have been made of com
plicity by this government In the revolu-
destitute of foundation as of propriety. The
only excuse for my mentioning them IS the
fear lest unthinking persons might mistake
for acCueScence the silence OF more
self-respect. l thing proper to say, there
fore that no one connected with this gov
eminent had any part in preparing, fnclt-
ing, or encouraging the late revolution on
the isthmus of Panama, and that save from
the reports Of our military and naval Oil
GERS, given above, no one connected with
this government had any previous knoWl-
edge of the revolution except such as was
accessible to any person of ordinary in
telligence who read the newspapers ana
kept up current acquaintance with pub
lie affairs.
Ry the unanimous action Of its people,
without the firing of shot-with unanim-
ity hardly before recorded IN any similar
case-the people of Panama declared them
selves an Independent republic. Their rec
ognition by this government was based
upon state of facts in no way dependent
for its justification upon our action In or
binary cases. 1 have not denied, nor do |
wish to deny, either the validity or the
propriety of the general rule that new
state should not be recognized as 1nGe-
pendent till it has shown its ability to
maintain its independence. This rule is de
rived from the principle OF non-lnteryen-
has generally been observed by the United
States. But, like the principle from which
1t is deduced, the rule is subject to excep-
tons; and there are in my opinion clear
and imperative reasons why departure
from it was justified and even required in
the present instance: These reasons en-
national interests and safety; and, third,
the interests of collective civilization.
Warned by Newspapers.
The President calls attention 10 the
fact that as early as July the news
papers were publishing reports that a
revolution was imminent, and that it
would follow the rejection by Colombia
of the canal treaty. Official correspon-
dence shows that the Colombians even
threatened the Americans on the isthmus
when the revolution did break out.
Col. Torres is reported by Comman-
der Hubbard of the Nashville as saying
November 4 that if the Panamaians did
not release Gems. Tobol and Amaya, he
would open fire on Colon and kill every
| United States citizen in the place. Com
mander Hubbard ordered United States
citizens to take refuge IL the shed of
the Panama Railroad company and ar
ranged to land troops. There was only
small force of Americans, but their de-
termination to stand their ground had a
checking effect on the Colombians. In
communication to the state depart
ment November 5 Commander Hubbard
says:
a. I beg to assure the department that
7 had no part whatever in the negotiatio
that were carried on between Col Torres
and the representatives Of the provisional
government; that / landed an armed force
only when the lives of American citizens
were threatened, and withdrew this force
as soon as there seemed to be no grounds