The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-07-10

Washington, July Limited 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.
thorizing the United States to assume
this police duty whenever 1t 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 UrrfOla, 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 II held on the dates set by law.
The opposition party protested to
Washington against the deferment OF
the elections, claiming that such a
move would serve no purpose except
to favor the candidates supported by
the new administration. The Ameri-
can state department advised Presi-
dent Urriola to hold the elections.
He replied that a fair election could
not be held now and suggested that
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 be held In an
open and fair manner.
No disorders have been reported
since it 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 situa-
ton. 1t reads:
Foreign Secretary Lefevre states
that at eleven o'clock Friday morning,
the charge d'affaires of the United
States delivered note informing him
that the United States by virtue of
article of the treaty of 1904 had Or
dered that its armed forces. at two
O'Clock should enter the cities Of Pan
anna and Colon to maintain the pub
lie order In them and on the waters
adjacent to them.
"At that hour in the midst of pro-
found tranquility the armed American
forces entered without the least re-
sistance on the part of our police or Of
the authorities. Notwithstanding that
the Panaman government did not have
time to inform the city authorities as
to the manner In which the American
troops would exercise their functions
as police, because the memorandum
covering this feature was not handed
to me until after one o'clock In the
afternoon.
II do not wish to characterize now
as unjustifiable this act of the govern
ment of the United States, but the fact
should be considered that my govern
ment with the forces at its disposal
Is able to maintain public order In the
whole nation, and without doubt In the
cities of Panama and Colon.
"True, 1t is, that there Is consider
able political excitement because of
the approaching elections, but this is
characteristic Of all democracies.
ut is also true that, although there
were fears of disturbances in some
parts of the republic. nothing has TAX
en- place nor could take place. which
should give rise to doubt that the
government is impotent to put down
with strong hand the least attempt
ut public disorder.
sharp cabIeoram to Wilson.
President Urriola has prepared a
manifesto to the country and yester-
day afternoon sent the following ca
blegram to President Wilson:
To-day at eleven o'clock i was in
formed by the charge d'affaires Of the |
United States In this capital that at |
two o'clock the cities of Panama and |
Colon would be occupied by the mill
tary forces Of the canal zone on the
pretext Of maintaining public order.
I protest against this interference.
which violates the sovereignty Of Pan
anna without any justification. mas
much as the government of Panama
has sufficient means to maintain order
In these cities. and I decline to share
with your excellency's government the
responsibilities which 30 grave an &C
TN implies-
CmRo LUIS URRIoLA.- !