Evening star., 1918-06-29
President UrrioIa Protests,
Declaring His Government
Capable of Keeping Order.
SOLDIERS TAKE CHARGE
WITHOUT OPPOSITION
Election Dates Postponed Despite
Direction From Washington-Op-
position Complained of
Procedure.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PANAMA, June 2a.-Upon orders
from Washington, American troops be
gan policing Panama and Colon at
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The action was taken under the
treaty of 1904 authorizing the United
States to assume this police duty when
ever it was necessary to maintain or
der. The Panaman government has
protested to Washington against the
measure.
Americans Boycotted Cities.
Because the former administration
had refused to correct conditions In
the two cities. soldiers in the Canal
Zone were forbidden to enter them
Civilian employees boycotted Colon and
Panama until the mandate of the mill
tary authorities was carried out by
the Panama government
The new administration, under Pres
ident Crriola, began to clean up the
cities, in connection with this work. 1t
announced that the elections fixed for
June so and July would be postponed
for six months because of fear that Sc
rious disorders might occur II held on
the dates set by law.
The opposition party protested to
Washington against deferment OF
election, claiming that such a move
favor the candidates supported by. the
new administration. The American
State Department. advised President
Crrio1a to hold the election.
He replied that a fair election could
not be held now. He also suggested
that American ommissioners super
wise the making up of poll books and
assume charge of an election. to be
held late in July or early in August,
which. he said, could be held in an
open and fair manner. No disorders
have been reported since it was an
nounced that the decree forbiddins
police.
The opposition party again protest
/ ed to Washington. Yesterday the
American State Department notified
President Urriola that because of dis
orders American troops would police
the cities until further notice. Nc
time limit being set. there is no one
in Panama who knows how long the
occupation will continue.
Statement by Urriola.
DR.. Giro Urriola, the President OF
Panama, yesterday issued statement
on the situation. 1t reads:
Foreign Secretary Lefevre state:
that at IL o'clock yesterday morning
the charge d'affaires of the United
States delivered note informing hin
that the United States. by virtue ot
article of the treaty of 1904, has or.
dered that it's armed forces, at
o'clock this afternoon, would enter
I the cities of Panama and Colon II
, maintain the public order in those
/. parts of the waters adjacent to them
"At that hour. in the midst of pro.
found tranquility, the armed Ameri-
can forces entered without the least
or of the authorities, notwithstanding
that the Panaman government die
not have time to inform the city au-
thorities as to the manner in which
their functions as police. because the
memorandum covering this feature
, was not handed to me until after ]
o'clock in the afternoon.
II do not wish to characterize nov
+, as unjustifiable this act of the gov.
. ernment of the United States, but the
fact should be considered that my
government. with the forces at 1t:
disposal, is able to maintain public
order in the whole nation and. with
out doubt. in the cities OF Panama ant
Colon.
'True II is that there is considerable
political excitement because of the
approaching elections, but this is char
acteristic of all democracies. 1t is
also true that. although there were
fears of disturbances in some parts
of the republic, nothing has taken
place. nor could take place. which
would give rise to doubt that the
government Is impotent to put down
with a. strong hand the least attempt
at public disorder.
TT is also pertinent that the polit
fcal problem which stirs the country
could have been solved satisfactorily
by the United States, whose friendly
cooperation was solicited"
Urriola Cables Wilson.
President Urriola has prepared Z
manifesto to the country and yester
day afternoon sent the following
cablegram to President Wilson:
To-day at IL o'clock 1 was In
formed by the charge daffaires O.
the United States in this capital tha
at 2 O'clock in the afternoon the cite:
OF Panama and Colon would be occu
pied by the military forces of the
Canal Zone. on the pretext of main.
tanning public order.
II protest against this interference,
which violates the sovereignty O.
Panama without any justification. in
asmuch as the government of Panam,
has sufficient means to maintain pub
lilo order In these cities. and I decIin,
to share with your excellency's gov
eminent the responsibilities which S,
grave an action implies