Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-12-15
WON'T Send WARSHIPS
TO PANAMA JUST YET
CONSIDERING REQUEST FOR
DESTROYERS TO ENFORCE
NEUTRALITY.
Believes Zone Governor Has Suf
ficient Force to Enforce
the Rules.

w AsHINGToN, Dec. 14.-Colonel
w Gothals reiterated request
for destroyers TO use in enforcing
neutrality laws in the Panama canal
zone was the subject of conferences
today between Secretary Of War Gar
rison, Counselor Lansing of the state
department and Admiral Fisk, chief
of the navy's bureAu of operations,
No decision was reached and 1t was
indicated tonight. that because of the
delicacy of the question involved and
the scant information furnished by
Colonel Goethals, it might be several
days before any action was taken.
Secretary Garrison early in the day
received a cablegram from Colonel
Goethals in reply to his request for
details concerning the call for do
stroyers. This message was not made
public, on account of its confidential
nature, but Mr. Garrison said in
Colonel Goethals' judgment misuse OF
radio communication within canal
waters and the necessity of preventing
misuse of the zone as base OF sup
ply by belligerents. required the pres
ence of swift-moving war vessels.
A Delicate Matter.
Before any step Is determined upon,
II Is understood that officials OF the
administration will go deeply into the
question OF the powers and obliga-
tions of the government in controlling
activities in the waters adjacent to
the canal zone. An agreement will
have TO be reached, too, as to which
department of the government should
deal with the situation.
At present the officials appear to
believe that the governor of the Pan
ANA canal already has at his COM
mand ample power to enforce the
neutrality laws and all of the regula-
tions for the use Of the canal. The
Notifications at the terminals are suf-
ficiently advanced to give military
command of all of the waters within
the three mile limit. and beyond that
point the United States government
can exercise no control.
There Is an ample military force
in barracks I'm the zone to maintain
order and to deal with any vessel
after 1t has passed through the en-
trance locks OF the canal
Can Regulate Condition.
Regarding the alleged use of radio
outfits by British colliers within the
canal waters, the officials are trying to
ascertain the extent to which this has
been done SO far only one instance
is said to have occurred, and II is
suggested that warning against the
repetition Of the offense will be suf-
ficient, without invoking a display OF
force. II such a display should be
necessary. however, 1t will be incum-
bent upon the navy to undertake to
prevent the transmission Of wireless
messages in violation OF the law as
by 4 proclamation OF August last,
the navy department was placed In
exclusive control OF the radio service
In the canal zone and required to ex-
ecute the regulations.
Not much Importance Is attached
here to the complaint from the 18TH
mus that vessels have been leaving
there without clearance papers as 1t
Is pointed out that all Of these vessels
had clearance papers from the port
they LETT before reaching Panama.
But as to bills Of health the opinion
OF officials here is that il is fully
within the power OF the governor OF
the canal to require strict compli-
ancc with the regulations on that
point In order to insure the water
way against an epidemic of some con-
tagious disease