Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-03
ESPECIAL correspondence


Washington, Sept. S-.Ofllclais u t''7
state department are rapidly coming -
the conclusion that it will require
great amount of deNcacy to MAINTAIN
friAn6jv relations between this govern
meut and Panama. The recent QUIZ
burst OF criticism against the oht'eu
States by the followers Of Acting fresl-
den- Mendoza is but one of the many
indications patent to officials iafhlilaf
with conditions in the baby repuoiic
that there is trouble ahead.
For some peculiar reason, the exact
nature of which is not known lhe
state department has experienced coz
siderable difficulty is finding a dlplo-
mat who can fill the office OF minister
to Panama with satisfaction 10 tie
United states and az the same time pe
persona grata at the palace in panama
CITY. Officials of Panama have COM
planned frequently that the lhl.eo
States practically ignored them 50 laf
as maintaining diplomatic relations -
concerned. Ii is fact that pracuca'is
ever since this government set Panama
up as a republic in spite OF the protests
of Colombia that the American NM
listers have spent far more time a"aF
from their posts then they have in the
country TO which they were accreo4 teu.
This was particularly SO in the case OF
Minister Squires. who presented ms
credentials one day, called at the pal
ace a few days later to announce that
ne was going back 10 the United states
on his vacation, and remained in this
country until he was relieved as min
ister. II has happened that practically
all of the diplomatic exchanges be-
tween the TWO countries have been con-
Quoted thru the charge d affaires. This
has irritated the officials of Panama,
who have felt that they were being
sighted.
Why Dawson Was Named.
1t is in the hope that the relations ze-
tween the countries will be placed on
a more satisfactory basis that the state
department has been prompted 70 ap-
point Thomas c. Dawson as minister TO
Panama Mr.. Dawson has been doing
extremely valuable work a s chief Of the
bureau of Latin-American republics.
He has had the widest possible expert
ence In dealing with South American
countries and has an intimate knowl-
edge of each and every republic. He Is
not only good diplomat but an in
tensely practical man. extremely re-
sourceful and capable of Strengthening
out diplomatic tangles to the satisfac-
ton of all concerned. Mr.. Dawson will
go TO Panama next month and it is ex-
pected that that he will be able TO solve
some problems which are proving an
noying not only TO the state depart
ment, but also 10 the officials in charge
Of constructing the canal.
Most important among these is the
Interpretation OF the treaties between
the two countries. There is now vast
difference of opinion between the twu
governments as TO the rights delegated
10 the United states and those reserved
10 Panama One instance Of this is to
be found in a case which is proving ex-
tremely annoying to the 1sthmian canal
commission. The treaty gave TO the
United States the right to exercise jur-
isdiction over a certain body of water
adjacent TO the western entrance TO
the canal. The canal commission ran
dirt trains out into this water and
made a considerable area of made land.
Panama now claims this land. While
the United States resists the claim on
the ground that in effect, it converted
water into land and that it is justified
under the terms of the treaty in exer-
cising jurisdiction over this land just
as it exercises jurisdiction over all the
land within the canal zone.
Firmness to Be the Rule.
Such differences as these have given
rise to a great deal of friction in which
the commission as we'll as the state de-
partrnent has been involved. 1t is
known that Colonel Goethals has been
laborng under a severe handicap in
that there has seldom been at the le-
cation Of the United States in Panama
a minister who would assist him in ad-
justing numerous problems which arise
from time to time.
1t is not too much to say that the
United States will not be surprised II
it is called upon. from time to time, to
announce with considerable firm
ness that this must be done or this
must not be done In the case of the
election of new president. for in
stance. it is felt in responsible quar-
tiers here that the election of Acting
President Mendoza by the assembly in
direct violation of the constitution
could very easily precipitate revolu-
ton. With an investment of many mil
lions. it is pointed out. this governm ent
can not afford to stand idly by and
permit factions TO do anything which
might endanger that investm ent, and
vigiiant watch over Panama in all of