The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-06-29
Upon Orders From Washington.
Opposition Party Protests.
Occupation Indefinite.
UNDER TREATY OF 1914
Authorizing Action Whenever
Necessary to Maintain Or
der in Canal Zone.

Panama. June 29.--Upon orders from
washington. American troops began
policing Panama and Colon at c'ocA
Yesterday afternoon. The actlon was
taken under the treaty of 1904, author-
izing the United States to assume this
no,ice duty whenever 1T was necessary
10 maintain order. The Panaman gov
ernment has protested to washington
against the measure
Because the former administration
had refused to correct conditions IN 'he
two cities, soldiers in the canal zone
were forbidden to enter them ana the
civilian employees boycotted Colon anu
Panama until the mandate OF the mil
tary authorities was carried OUT ny 'ne
Panaman government.
The new administration, nnoer
President Urriola, began to clean up
the cities. but in connection with thls
work, announced the elections hxed 1or
June 80 and July would be postponed
for six months because of the fear Una.
serious disorders might occur II helo
on the dates set by law.
Protested to Washington.
The opposition party protested 10
washington against the deferment OF
the elections, claiming that such
move would serve no purpose except
to favor the candidates supported oy
the new administration. The Amer
ican state department advised Presl-
dent ITrriola to hold the elections, put
he replied that a fair election coulu
not be held now and suggested that
American commissioners supervise the
making I'D of poll books and assume
change of an election to be held lale
in July or early in August Whlch the
president said could be held IN an
open and fair manner. NO dlsoroels
have been reported since It was an
nounced that the decree forpioolhs the
elections would be enforced Sy the
police.
The opposition party again protested
to Washington, and yesterday sns
American state department no'ilieo
president Urriola that because of dis
orders American troops would police
the cities until further notice. No time
limit being set, there is no one In
Panama who knows how long the oc-
cupation will continue. DR.. Gro Ur-
riola, the president, yesterday issued
statement on the situation. 1t reads:
BY Virtue Treaty 1904.
Foreign Secretary Lefevre states
that at II o'clock this morning. the
Charge dAffairs of the United STATES
delivered a note informing hlm that
the United States by virtue or artlcle
7 OF the treaty of 1904 has ordered that
ernoon would enter the cities OF Pana-
ma and Colon to maintain the pubic
order in them and on the waters ad-
jacent to them.
AT that hour in the midst of pro-
found tranquility the armed American
forces entered without the least resist
ance on the part of our police or OF
the authorities, notwithstanding that
the Panaman government did not have
time to inform the city authorities al
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 l o'clock in the aft |
ernoon.
Not "Unjustifiable.'
"I do not wish to characterize now |
as unjustifiabe 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 I
is that there is considerable political |
excitement because of the approaching /
elections but this is characteristic of |
all democracies. 1t is also true that al
though there were fears of disturb |
ances in some parts of the republic, !
nothing has taken place. nor could take |
place, which would give rise to a doubt
that the government is impotent to put |
down with strong hand the least at
tempt at public disorder.
1T is, also pertinent that the poll
teal problems which stirs the country
could have been solved satisfactorily
by the United States. whose friendly
cooperation we solicited