The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-11
IN CASE OF Wan At PANAMA
W. WOS'F UIOW ItfERFgREN1g
WIFH TitlI wars

NStFe'HFF NAN WFffFA y NNtNSF sNsH"s wv
N tie lstRsisa NevWsse tsusa Sse
aumBsess ~ l~nsRysetisa Ne taitea
ststes Wstaa iteie Ilsp ~ 10 D.
wtawsgtox, May ~ A nNs ~ laguATy
Instituted ~ Q mstHipF ~ the fAbessl
Tarty In Panatna, followed ny intrsfoea.
tlona from ths O0veVneant " paaasna ~
N shat ths tnitssi States world do IN uaas
. rsvoIuti0H bfoks out on chs IsthsH,ta,
has brouaht forth . dsclarttien ~ policy
from tho Admlnlst ration IN that iapor'an,
natteT
Tho original question ~ 10 the attitude
~ hmerieFsn troops In the event ~ q 70
bs9liOn against the uuSerumant VA made
some time aao UOv. kaaoon ~ The Canal
hone put the question Ia Secretary Root,
VIII replied that this Government would
lie guided by its treaty rights and obllGa-
tons and that II would permlt no disturb
ances within tho Canal zone or In the cities
~ Panama or Colon.
Following this the Government ~
Panama asked what limitations would
he placed on American troops In case 81
revolution. The Secretary Of STATE, he
~lievir.: that this wns properly u quest ion
" ~ 'hI department. W ut'ihtNt NuftlNN
the matter over to Secretary Taft, who
has informed Gov. MaEoon OF the attitude
Of the United States, and the letter has been
presented to the Panama Government,
Secretary Taft says that he thinks the
United States might properly, to prevent
interference with canal cOnst r%uction, which
would be- certain, SUPPRESS any insurrec-
ton In any part Of the Republicof Panama.
Secretary Taft has ooncurred with Secre-
tary Root In the doctrine laid down by Mr..
Root, who went deep into the Law on the
subject. Ia his letter Mr.. Tat said in
part:
at Is evident from the letter OF the Score
tary Of State that in his previous instruc-
tons to you, to which he refers, he had
not Intended to restrict In any way the
power Of the United States to maintain
peace and good order. not only in a ma
and Colon, hut any adjacent territory
of tho republic in which domestic insur-
rection or violence would obstrlct the
great purpose Of the United States to build
the canal.
His instructions to you we're intended to
emphasize the dignity and sovereignty OF
the Republic Of Panama as a nation and "a
government, and TO point out that it would
be improper for the United States to inter
fere with the elections or other internal
AFFAIRS Of the Republic of Panama, and
to take steps to maintain peace and order
in its territory in the first instance; that it
was the duty OF the Republic of Panama to
maintain its own place and good order,
and that he could not assume that IL would
not do 90. He did not mean at all to cir
autFnaari1A thA Nnnxunr ~ nnttnn IF fhn
United States in case an fnsurrection in the
Republic Of Panama anywhere threatened
danger to the interests OF the United States
In building the canal or to it's property in
the Canal Zone. The question whether
such interference ought TO take place he
characterizes AZ a military question and
one TO be determined by the knowledge Of
conditions on the Isthmus and the prao-
tical effect that the insurrection would
have on the building Of the canal.
Il have no hesitation whatever in saying
that In my judgment an insurrection in
any part Of the republic would disturb the
order in Panama and Colon and adjacent
territory and would greatly increase the
difficulties that the United States would
have in constructing tho canal, and while,
Of course, the forces Of our Government
ought not to intervene unit. il is established
that the Republic Of Panama cannot main
tain order in its own territory, ] think the
United States may properly, under the
clauses Of the treaty construed in the light
of the provision Of the Constitution OF Pam
anna quoted by the Secretary of State,
and to prevent it's inevitable interference
with thework Of canal construction, suppress
insurreotion in any part Of the republic.
sOf course such action With respect 10 :
an independent Government, even with
It's consent as given IN it's fundamental law, !
ought not to be lightly taken or Until all :
The circumstances are known and until II Ia !
fully established that the Government of
Panama IL not able to maintain itself. or
this fact q request by the President Of
Panama for OUR intervention to suppress'an
instruction would he the best evidence.
II this fact does appear then the duty of
our Government would be- plain.
II sincerely hope and confidently believe
hat no disturbance Of the peace or insur-
will take place, and that II 1t does
he authorities Of Panama can suppress It
Without assistance from the United States;
cut persons d~iscontented with the Govern
nent OF the Republic OF Panama should
not he encouraged to attempt to overthrow
t on the superstition that the United States
would not take steps, II occasion arose under
he circumstance already described, to
end its aid by an armed force to suppress
N instruction in any Fart Of the Republic
Panama"