The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-11
PANAMA WILL GET
 AMERICAN SUPPORT
Revolutionary Troubles Must
 Not Interfere With Work
TAFT WRITES A LETTER
Secretary Root Also Discusses the Con stltutional Right of the United State to Interfere In Any h.
 surrectlon in Canal Zone.

Washington. May 10.-Revolutionary movement or election troubles in Panama, which in any way interfere with work in the canal zone, Justify the interference of the United States in support of the Panama government.
 Such is the tenor of the instructions sent to Governor Magoon of the canal zone by Secretary Taft. who also sub mltted to Governor Magoon a letter from Secretary Root 'of the state department
 setting forth in detail what Is stated
 to be the Justification of American in-
 terference in case of disorder in any part i of Panama.
 1 This emphatic setting forth of the po-
 sition of the United States, 1t is believed,
 will prevent serious trouble at the cleo
 tons to be held in June. As Secretary Taft makes it clear that any disorder in
 the republic will hinder canal work, his letter will be doubly discouraging to op-
 ponents of President Amador, who are
 reported to have been planning a move inent against him outside of the canal
 zone, believing that the United States
 would not suppress any insurrection un- | less 1t extends within the zone.
 Governor Magoon communicated his in- ! structions to the Panama government yesterday, and today Secretary Taft made { public both his letter to Governor Ma | goon and letter of Secretary Root re- 1 viewing the relations of tho United States
 and Panama.
 Taft Writes Letter. ! In his letter to Governor Magoon, Sec- retary Taft says:
 ] "1 have no hesitation In saying that In my Judgment an insurrection in any part of the republic would disturb the order in ! Panama and Colon and adjacent terri tory, and would greatly increase the diff faculties that the United States have in the construction of the canal, and while, of course the forces of our government ought not to intervene until It is estab- lshed that the republic of Panama can not maintain order In it's own territory, l think the United States may properly. under the clauses of the treaty construed in the light of the provision of the con stitution of Panama to prevent it's in evitable interference with the work Of canal construction, suppress any insur- rection in any part of the republic or 1 course such action ought not to be taken until 1t is fully established that the gov | ernment of Panama is not able to main ! tain itself Of this fact, a request by ] the president of Panama for our interven- tion to suppress an instruction would be i the best evidence. If this fact does appear, then the duty of our government would be plain"
 Secretary Roots Letter.
 Secretary Roots letter to Secretary ! Taft discusses at length the constitutions
 al questions involved in the exercise by the United States of authority to main ' tain peace on the isthmus, and quotes a
 section from the Panamanan consttu- ! ton which provides the United States | may maintain peace in Panama in case ] this country agrees by treaty to do SO. ! He also quotes a section Of the treaty 1 between the United States and Panama 1 in which Panama grants the United | States the right to preserve order In the l new republic.
 1 It is made clear by the secretary that the United States does not purpose re- ! lieving Panama of responsibility for the 1 maintenance of peace and has no thought ! of interfering with the political parties i in the republic. He emphasizes the fact that the United States does not assume | to protect the government and people of 1 Panama from "the inevitable results of indifference and indiscretlon on their | part"
 ! He then says the United States would l not be committing an act of war by sending troops into Panama upon the re- | quest of the president of that republic, ] as under the Panamariian constitution a
 request may be interpreted as the assent of the Panamanian government. The right l of the United States to protect it's prop | erty wherever located is set forth by | Secretary Root. Any hindrance to the construction of the canal Is interference
 with the rights and privileges of the United States. which the secretary of | state says must be dealt with, and ac- cordngly the secretary of war Is directed to instruct all United States officials on | the isthnus to hold themselves in readi-
 ness to meet any emergency without ex- | ceedng their Jurisdiction.