Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-17
TAFT DENIES PLAN
To ANNEX PANAMA
President Disposes of Report in
Speech at Dinner Given by
Southern Executive
CANAL WORK is INSPECTED
Grievance Committees Seize 0p-
portunity to Ask for More
Pay from the U. S.
CANAL WORK is INSPECTED
Associated Press1

lASSoclated fFesSl
PANAMA, Nov. 16.-President Taft
tonight effectually disposed Of the re-
port that the United States was likely
to annex Panama.
At a dinner given in his honor by
President Arosemena and attended by
200 officials, diplomats and merchants,
Mr., Taft declared the American peo-
pie would feel utterly dishonored in
annexing Panama unless some con-
duct on the part of the Panaman peo-
pie left no other course.
His statement was received with
the greatest enthusiasm.
The president arrived at Panama at
$3.50 this evening from Culebra after
spending the day in the great cut,
where he was surrounded oftentimes
with giant shovels, putting drills and
hurrying dirt trains, while occasional
distant blasts sent up tons of rock.
The recent landslides were visible,
but they were in nowise disturbing
to the president or to Colonel Goeth-
ais, the latter saying they will be
taken care Of as they occur, until the
degree Of wall slope prevents re-
currence.
The president this afternoon re-
viewed the marines at Camp Elliott.
Later he heard grievance committees,
who asked for an increase in pay.
This is not likely to be granted, be-
cause the wages of the men are al
ready higher and the cost of living
much lower than in the United States
MEETS PRESIDENT AROsEMENA
Immediately on his arrival in Pan
anna the president proceeded to the
American legation, where he was
called on by President Arosemena:
President Taft returned the call at
the palace and then proceeded to the
banquet
After an address of cordial welcome
bv the Panaman president, President
president Arosemena, and my
friends of Panama. I am again glad
to accept of your hospitality. AS once
in the case of Mexico, as now IN the
case of Panama, I ventured to Vlolate
the customary limitation upon the
Of the president of the
United States by leaving the soil of
nv own country to come beneath the
flag and protection of a friendly neigh
bor.
1.-THE birth of the republic of Panama
and the peculiar interest which the
United States has had since that blrth
in Panama's welfare and prosperity
have found a common cause III the con-
1.-THE treaty between the two coun-
tries makes the United States the
guarantOr of the Panama republic, and
therefore, in a sense, the guardian or
the liberties of her people secured by
it's constitution.
"Our responsibility therefore for your
government requires us closely to OBJ
serve the course Of conduct by those
selected as the officials of your gov
ernment after they are selected, and to
insist that they be seleced according
to law.
"All this makes us especially inter-
ested in what is done in your govern
ment, but this neither calls for nor
permits annexation. We are here to
maintain, operate and DEFEND
the world canal which runs through
the heart of your country, and you
gave us the necessary sovereignty and
Jurisdiction over that part of your
country occupied by the canal to en-
able us to do this effectively.
NO DESIRE FOR ANNEXATION
I'VE do not wish any further re-
sponsibility in respect to your govern
ment than is necessary in respect to
the carrying out of our purpose to
construct and maintain this canal. We
have no desire to add to the territory
under our jurisdiction, except as the
operation of the canal may require it.
I'VE have guaranteed your integrity
as a republic, and for us to annex
territory would be to violate that guar
antee and nothing would justify it on
our part, so long as Panama performs
her part under the treaty.
II wish to make this statement as
emphatic as possible because irrespon-
sible persons without the slightest
foundation in fact have started
rumor that my visit to the isthmus is
for the purpose of promoting anneXa-
tiOn, when nothing could be further
from the proof.
Panama cannot be too prosperous,
too healthy too strong a government
for the United States, and I know l
speak the unanimous voice of the
United States when I say we would
be most reluctant to have to take over
the responsibility of government be-
yond the canal zone, and would feel
utterly dishonored in so doing, unless
there was some conduct on the part
OF the Panama people which left no
other course.
I am glad to say there is not the
slightest indication or probability that
the Panaman people will ever pursue
policy which would require such
change in the present most satisfac
tory relations between the two repub-
lies"