Licking Valley courier., 1918-07-04

Washington, July 1.-United States
troops will remain in Colon and PAN
anna, according to present intentions,
until order is established and all the
elections have been held.
Panama, July Upon orders from
Washington, American troops began
policing Panama and Colon at two
o'clock Friday afternoon. The action
was taken under the treaty Of 1904 au-
thorlzing the United States to assume
this police duty whenever II was nee
essary to maintain order The Pana-
man government has protested to
Washington against the measure.
Because the former administration
had refused to correct conditions in
the two cities, soldiers in the canal
zone were forbidden to. enter them.
and the civilian employees bOycOtted
Colon and Panama until the mandate
OF the military authorities was carried
out by the Panaman government.
The new administration, under Pres
ident UrriOla, began TO clean up the
cities, but in connection with this
work, announced that the elections fix
ed for June 80 and July would be
postponed for six months because of
the fear that serious disorders might
occur If held on the dates set by law.
The opposition party protested to
Washington against the deferment of
the elections, claiming that such Il
move would serve no purpose except
tb favor the candidates supported by
the new administration. The Ameri-
can state department advised Presl-
dent Urriola to hold the elections.
He replied that fair election could
not De held now aud slggested tiM
American commissioners supervise the
making up of poll books and assume
charge Of an election to be held late
in July or early in August, which, the
president said, could he held in an
open and fair manner.
No disorders have been reported
since II was announced that the decree
forbidding the elections would be en-
forced by the police.
The opposition party again protested
to Washington and yesterday the
American state department notified
President Urriola that because of dis
orders American troops would police
the cities until further notice.
Urriola Issues Statement.
DR.. Giro UrriOla, the president, last
night issued statement on the situn'
ton. 1t reads:
"Forelgn Secretary Lefevre states
that at eleven o'clock Friday morning
the charge daffalres Of the Unite,
States delivered note informing him
that the United States by virtue ol
article Z of the treaty Of 1901 had or
dered that its armed forces, ut two
o'clock should enter the cities Of Pan
ANA and Colon to maintain the pub
lie order in them and on the water
adjacent to them.
"At that hour in the midst of pro
found tranquility the armed American
forces entered without the least re
slstance on the part of our police or o
the authorities, Notwithstanding thu
the Panaman government did not hav
time to inform the city authorities u
to the manner in which the American
troops would exercise their function
as police. because the memorandum
covering this feature was not handle
TO me until after one o'clock in tn
afternoon.
II do not wish to characterize no,
as unjustifiuble this net of the govern
ment OF the United States, but the fac
should be considered that my govern
ment with the forces at Its dlspos,
is able to maintain public order in III
whole nation, and without doubt in III
cities OF Panama and Colon.
"True, 1t is, that there is conslde
able political excitement because ,
the approaching elections, but this
characteristic of all democracies.
at is also true that, although thcl
were fears Of disturbances In sou
parts of the republic, nothing has Ia
en- place nor could take place. viii,
should give rise TO doubt that Il
government is impotent to put dow
with strong hand the leust attem
at public disorder.
Sharp cablegram TO Wilson.
President Urrlola has prepared
manifesto to the country and vest,
day afternoon sent the following c
blegram to President Wilson;
To-day at eleven o'clock | was
formed by the charge d'afnires of {
United States in this capital that
two o'clock the cities of Panama u
Colon would be occupied by the mi
tary forces of the canal zone on {
q pretext OF maintaining public ord
protest against this lntcrieren
which violates the sovereignty of II
anna without any Justification, I'M
much as the government of Panal
has sufficient means TO maintain orr
In these cities, and decline to sh,
with your excellenCy's government
responsibilities which SO grave an
tion implies,
CIRRo LUIS URRIoLA.'