The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-05-02
INQUIRY INTO
PANAMA DEAL
Il TOOK PANAMA" SPEECH
OF ROOSEVELT HAS
STARTED ROW.

WASHINGTON, April ia group
Of Democratic members OF the house,
under the leadership OF Representative
Henry 4. Rainey Of Illinois, and with
the aid Of the New York World. are
going TO try to get to the bottom Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's Il took Panama"
speech, delivered in California. Stacks
of evidence, gathered by the World at
an expense Of more than 100000 to
defend itself against the suit brought
by Mr.. Roosevelt while he was Presi-
dent for alleged litel of the govern
ment of the United states, have been
placed at the disposal of MIR. RRiney.
Washington was treated today to the
unique spectacle of Harry L. Dunlap,
chief of the Worlds Washington bu-
reau, and Henry n. Hall of Mr.. Dun
laps staff riding through the streets
in an open victoria, guarding eight or
ten large tin boxes containing this evil
dence. They took the boxes to the
Union Trust Company's building, and
did not leave them until the documents
were safely slowed away.
A few days ago Ralph Pulitzer, son
of the proprietor and active in the man
agement of the World, visited Wash
ington and laid out the plan of cam
paign.
To Push case in Person.
When asked about the matter today,
Representative Rainey said:
" Yes, the World has kindly offered
me access to the evidence which it has
gathered concerning the fomenting of
the revolution in Panama and the TAX
ing of the isthmus by the Roosevelt
administration. l have already exam
ined some of this evidence and expect
to be able to produce it at the proper
time. l intend to appear in person
before the house foreign affairs COM
mittee within the next two weeks and
make out a prima facie case, upon
which ! am confident the Democratic
ajority of that committee will base
a favorable report on my resolution
calling for a thorough investigation OF
the whole subject.
~ shall prove that this government
deliberately violated the treaty of 1876
with the Republic of Colombia, and
some of>the evidence that 1 shall pro
duce will be obtained from the records
in the government departments, the ex
istence of which l do not believe is
known to Mr.. Roosevelt. / shall prove
that the revolution of 1902, which re
suited in the independence of Panama
was prepared in the United States
and that officials of this government
were instrumental in preparing it.
shall also prove that it was known ii
the United States for months in ad
vance that there would be such revo
luton upon set date, and that two
weeks before the time it was to breal
United States war vessels were sent t.
Panama.
Tells of Premature Disclosure.
Furthermore, l shall prove that thu
announcement of the revolution wal
made prematurely in this country be
fore the people of Panama knew any
thing about it, All this was to- avoit
the treaty of 1916 and to gain pos
session of the canal zone and valuable
property of the Republic of Colombia
shall produce original documents t.
show that what L say is true.
!, 81 intend to show the true equity o
the situation, and shall not make
personal attack on Mr.. Roosevelt o
anyone else. My purpose is to estah
lish better relations with the republic
to the south of us. l am told tina
there is a plan ON foot now to pun
chase a worthless island from Colon
bia in order to appease her, but 1 d
: not think it Will have the desired IT
suit
In his resolution Mr.. Rainey recite
: that Mr. Roosevelt declared h
r took" Panama without consultin
t congress, and that Colombia has eve
z. since pstitioned this country to sui
t nit to The Hague tribunal the legi
and equitable question whether sue
n taking was in accordance with or
g violation of the treaty then existin
d between the two countries or of til
e well established principles of the La
9, of nations. The Illinois Representative
y seeks to direct the foreign affairs con
1t mittee, of which Representative Sulz'
r of New York is chairman, to make I'll
a investigation of these matters, wit
m authority to compel the attendance {
g persons and papers and to report
h the house with all converter
lie speed. -
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