The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-09-21

LITTLE NEW REPUBLIC OBJECTS
TO AMERICAN METHODS.
Trouble Is Near, and 1t Will Require
Careful Handling of the Situa-
ton TO Avoid 1t.

WASHINGTON, d. C.-Is the
United States about to have trouble
with Panama?
Officials of the state department
/ are coming to the conclusion that it
will require the greatest amount of
delicacy to maintain friendly rela-
tions between this government and
Panama. The recent outburst of
criticism against the United States
by the followers of Acting President
Mendoza is but one of the many in
dications patent to officials familiar
with conditions in Panama that there
may be trouble ahead.
For some peculiar reason, the ex-
act nature of which is not known,
the state department has experienced
considerable difficulty in finding a
diplomat who would acceptably fill
the place of minister of Panama.
Officials of Panama nave complained
considerably recently because the
United States practically ignores
them automatically. 1t is a fact
that practically ever since this gov
eminent set Panama up as a repub-
lie over the protests of Columbia
that the American ministers have
spent considerably more time away
from their posts than they have in
the country TO which accredited.
This was nOticeably so in the case
of Minister Squires, who presented
his credentials one day, called at the
palace a few days later to announce
that he was going back to the United
States on his vacation, and remained
in this country until relieved of his
position 1t has happened that prac-
tically all of the diplomatic ex-
changes between the two countries
have been conducted through the
changed affairs. Tnis has irritated
the officials of Panama, who have felt
that they were being sighted. 1t is
the hope that the relations between
the countries will be placed on
more satisfactory basis.
Among the important problems be-
tween the two countries that are
now giving trouble is the interpreta-
ton of existing treaties. There is
now a vast difference between the
two governments One instance is
to be found in the case that is prov
ing disagreeable to the Isthmian Ca
nal Commission. The treaty gave to
the United States the right to exer-
else jurisdiction over a certain body
of water adjacent to the western en-
trance to the canal. The Canal
Commission ran dirt trains out into
this water, creating a considerable
area of made land Panama now
claims the land. Such differences
have given rise to considerable fric-
ton. in which the commission as we'll
as the state department has been in
volved. 1t is known that Col Goeth-
ais has been laboring under a severe
handicap in that there has seldom
been at the legation of the United
States in Panama a minister who
would assist him in adjusting prob
lens that have come up from time
to time. 1t is not too much to say
that the United States will not be
surprised if it is called upon, from
time to time, to announce it's pro-
gramme with considerable firmness. |
1t is felt in responsible quarters that
the election of Acting President Men
doza by the assembly in direct viola
ton of the constitution could very
easily precipitate revolution With
an investment of many millions, it is
pointed out, this government cannot
afford to stand idly by and permit
factions to do anything which might
endanger that investment, and this
government proposes to exercise Wig
liant watch over Panama in all of
its acts, official and unofficial.
While every part of the United
States is affected by conditions in
Panama the Atlantic coast cities,
which are expected to reap millions
of dollars by the completion of the
canal, will be most vitality affected.
1t is decidedly to their interest that
both friendly and amicable relations
are maintained with the Panama re-
public.