New-York tribune., 1910-09-09
j. s. WON'T INTERFERE
IN PANAMA ELECTIONS
State Department Directs Mr..
Marsh to Repudiate Alleged
Interview.
HAS MADE NO PROTESTS
This Country Expects Panama to
Observe It's Own Constitu-
ton, Which Bars DR..
Mendoza Election.

| Panama Sept Sin an interview
published in a local paper to-day. Rich
ard O. Marsh. Charge d'Afaires of the
American Legation at Panama. was
| quoted as intimating that if the Pana
man government should ignore the
wishes of Washington the United States
would be compelled to occupy or annex
the Republic of Panama.
IF. IN view of all that the American
government has done for Panama. and
its great interests. present and future
on the isthmus, the Panama Assembly
and government should persistentIy re-
fuse to aCCede to the clear wishes of the
American government" said the inter
view. the government can only adopt
such means to prevent such opposition
in the future as occupation and annexa-
ton
MI Marsh's statement, it is said, was
made as a consequence of the evident
intention Of the Liberal party, which
has a majority in the Assembly. to elect
as the next President, to fill the
unexpired term of the late President
Obaldia. an anti-American citizen
The Assembly will elect three Vice
Presidents tomorrow, the one receiv-
ing the highest number of votes being
elevated to the office of acting Presi-
dent for the unexpired term Of the late
President Obaldia. Politics is the en-
crossing topic of discussion to-day.
Colon. Sept. S.-The "Star-Herald" to-
liz. i1h
the American Charge d'Affaires at Pan
anna. as limiting that the United States
will occupy and annex Panama If the
Panama Assembly ignores the wishes of
the United States in the matter OF the
selection Of a President of the republic.
1t is openly stated that Marsh has in
his possession a protest from many
prominent PanamanS, members of the
Conservative party, who contend that
the Assembly is Illegally constituted.
This protest. it is said, is not to be for
warded to Washington if Samuel Lewis,
who Is regarded as the choice of the
United States, is elected President.
The Liberal candidates are Dr. Bell
sario Porras, Domingo Diaz and DR..
the right as a representative body to
select the candidate of its choice, and
the tority is unwilling to believe that
the United States will interfere in the
domestic affairs of this republic unless
the occasion arises through a disturb
ance of public order. In this connection
the government organs freely quote from
Z l1a nT1tC
President Roosevelt and ex- Secretary of
State Root.
Washington Sept S.-Instructions to
repudiate. promptly and publicly, the in
tarview he is alleged to have given to-
dav at Panama were cabled this even
ing 10 Richard o. Marsh. the American
Charge d'Affaires, by Mr.. Wilson. acting
Secretary of State. The department of
ficials expressed themselves as satisfied
that if Mr. Marsh submitted to any in
terview he had been incorrectly quoted
as intimatlng that the United States
would intervene in event the Panamans
insisted on ignoring the reputed wishes
Of the United States in selecting a Pres
dent of the republic.
The United States has made no pro-
test against the election of any candi-
date. but expects the people OF Panama
to observe their own constitution. which
prohibits the election to the NicePresi
dency of a person already filling the
Presidency. this being Or. Mendoza's
status. Mendoza was Nice-President
when President Obaldia died. and be-
came acting President temporarily. 1t
would be necessary for him To be chosen
as Vice President to morrow in order 10
serve out the uneXpired term of Obal-
dia This is constitutionally impossible.
and this government. in It's treaty with
the isthmian republic, undertakes to
guarantee the maintenance of the con-
stitution No objection has been raised
to any other Liberal candidate.
GREAT BEAR SPRING WATER.
Its purity has made II famous.-AdVt.