New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
psE4IA.S BOryD4RY DISPUTE.

II is not in the least surprising that dispute
has arisen over the eastern boundary line OF the
Republic of Panama between that country and
Colombia. Boundary lines in Central and South
America have generally been somewhat lndet-
initely drawn. save where they are marked Dy
rivers or other unnstakabie geographical feat
ures The western boundary of Panama, be-
tween that republic and Costa Rica. was Tor
some time in dispute but has recently been DE-
termined. The Colombian line has been still
more uncertain for the reason that Panama was
for SO many years politically united with Colom-
bia Before that union the line was never ac-
curately determined; during the union thefe
was little need of establishing it, and since the
separation of the two countries, nearly five years
ago, the lack of diplomatic relations between
them has made it impracticable to survey and
mark the line Now, however, Colombia has
made definite movement toward demarcation,
and it is to be assumed that the usual processes
will be resorted to for The rectifcation Of the
frontier.
This eastern boundary Of Panama is commonly
assumed TO begin at Cape Tiburon. the Car
ibbean, and to follow the crest Of the ridge be-
tween the basins of the Atrato River. which IS
in Colombia. and the Tuyra River and its trib-
utaries. in Panama The chiefly disputed or
uncertain part of it is the southern end, where
it runs from the Altos de Aspave down to the
Pacific ocean. Ramon NaIdeS, IN MS 'TeoS-
raphy Of the Isthmus of Panama" which has
been officially adopted Il textbook and author
ity in the public schools Of the republic, begins
the line between Point C0calito and Point Ar
dita on the Pacific''-entTe iGS pUntGs C0cahtO
y Arditd, en- eI PdcifcO-and again as at "a
place equidistant between Point CocalitO and
Point Ardita'-uH lUgdr- equidiStdnte entire las
puntGs C0cdTito u 4rditG. Now those two
points are about eighteen miles apart. Cocalito
being at the northwest. in Panama. and Arditd
at the southeast, in Colombia. But the town or
IuradO which the Colombian government is now
said TO have invaded" is indicated on the best
available maps as lying at the mouth Of the
Jurado River. about eight miles southeast Of
Ardita Point or seventeen miles from the boun-
Diary. on the Colombian side.
If the maps are correct, therefore. the place
would seem To belong indiSputaby to Colombia
and the reported invasion TO be nothing but
an assertion of Colombia rights. 1t may, OF
course. be that the maps wrong. 1t may also
be that somebody in Panama is dissatisfied with
the purely arbitrary line from the Altos d.
Aspave TO an arbitrary spot between the two
capes. and thinks 1t should be run along the far
more natural line If the ,Jurado River, in which
case the town of Jurado being on the northwest
side of that stream, would belong to Panama.
But there is apparent authority for such a
changing Of the line Yald6S's geography. al
ready referred TO, and also the DIRECTORY Of
Panama mention Jurado as of the towns
of the district of Chepigana in the province Of
Panama. but give no authority, for thus enroll
ing a place which, according TO all available
maps and descriptions of boundaries seems 10
be well within Colombian territory