The Washington times., 1905-04-19
BARRETT'S RECALL
NOW SAID TO Be
DETERMINED upon
Administration Dissatis-
fled With His Work
at Panama.
DUPLICITY THE CHARGE
Responsible, 1t Is Said, for
Bad Feeling Against the
United States.
DUPLIClTY THE CHARGE

United States Minister John Barrett.
now at Panama, it is believed, will short
ly be recalled.
Whether or not he will be appointed
to some new post in the diplomatic ser
vice, or be dropped out entirely, Is not
definitely known. 1t is understood, how
ever, that the Administration is very
much dissatisfied with his management
OF affairs on the isthmus
One reason for this is disclosed in
the installment of advance sheets of the
foreign relations OF the United States
for 1904, which was given to the press
today. This shows that on August %
last when the relations between the
Panama republic and the United States
were in the most critical condition. on
account OF the objection of Panama to
the establishment of ports and the OPEN
ing OF postoffices in the canal zone. Min
ister Barrett reported to che State De-
Sitrtment that the minister of foreign
affalrs OF Panama preferred that nego-
natlons toward settlement of the oues-
tions in dispute should be continued in
Panama, and he suggested that the Pan
l
In that sense.
On the day that Minister Barrett sent
this communication to the State Depart
ment he had received a note from the
Panaman minister of foreign affairs.
Senor Arias. saying that it was deemed
best Ito await discussion of the main
question in Washington before contin-
uing further the discussion in Panama. !"
of
Adee Acted Accordingly.
In the meantime. however. acting upon
Mr. Barrett's cabled notification Acting
Secretary of State Adee, on August g,
wrote to Senor Obaldia, the Panaman
minister here, saying that lit has been
deemed expedient by the President that
The discussion of the questions raised,
which has begun at Panama. should be
continued there. where the means of
| ascertaining the pertinent facts are
more within the reach of the American
| legation and the government of Panama
This Government is also disposed to
| believe that this disposition of the
question would be preferred by your
government"
| Minister Barrett, meanwhile. wrote TO
the secretary Of foreign affairs in
Panama. Senor Arias. on August 81, in
reply to his note of August %, in which
the desire was expressed that the nego-
| tiations should be conducted in Wash
| ington to the following effect:
| while my Government fully respects
| the suggestion made by your eXcellency
| about consideration of the question in
| Washington, and while il has, in
! spirit Of perfect fairness. given cordial
| reed to the representations of Panama's s
! diplomatic representative in Washing
ton. it frankly believes that the best
| place for discussion is on the ground
| where the actual interests of both
! Panama and the zone are constantly
| before our eyes. :"
Shows Double Dealing.
This correspondence, it is claimed,
shows double dealing on the part of
| Minister Barrett, in that he reported
to this Government that the Panama
government wanted the negotiations
conducted in Panama, when, as a mat
ter Of fact, it had actually expressed
the desire that they should be carried
on in Washington; and that, after get
ting the United States, on his repre-
| sentation, to agree to the plan he sug-
gested, he told the Panama officials
| that II was the wish of the President
I Oh the JnlIed states tnat the negOt1a-
tons should be conducted in Panama
/ Of course Panama at once acquiesced
| in this arrangement
Shortly afterward, however, the facts
! were disclosed and these, coupled with
the dissatisfaction on account of the
establishment of the ports and post
1 offices in the canal zone, eliminated IN
such feeling against the United States
as to neccssitatc the personal visit of
Secretary of War Taft to Panama 10
| allay the resentment.
This It is said. is only one of many
reasons which have caused the Admin
! igtration here TO believe that Minister
| Barrett had better be called home. it
| is expected that as soon as Judge Ma
| goon, the new governor of the canal
zone. arrives on the isthmus, which will
be about May 10, he will take over the
| diplomatic duties of the American lega-
ton, and Minister Barrett will be re-
| called.