Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-03

OnCotoSel
To Panama
Secretary Hughes Demands
Disputed Territory Be Given
Up Within Reasonable
Time"
Enforce White Award

Washington, May Il Mess. an
ANA acts voluntarily within "a
reasonable time," the United States
will take measures to compel it to
transfer jurisdiction of the disputed
Coto territory to Costa Rica, Secre-
tary Hughes says, in recent note
10 the Panama government. The
text of the document was made pub
lie today at the State department.
"This government believes it would
be inadmissible to interpret its obli-
cations to Panama as embracing an
obligation to support any claims for
adjoining territory which might be
advanced by Panama, no matter
what the opinion of this government
might be as to the validity or justice
of these claims" the note says.
The Panaman claim that its title
to the disputed territory had been I'M
challenged since colonial times, the
note holds as in no way emitting
Panama to demand the occupation of
territory which is not a part OF the
republic of Panama and has been
conclusively adjudged to belong to
Costa Rica.
Will Enforce Demand.
That territory which was ad-
judged to be a portion of the terri
tory of the republic of Costa Rica,
the note declares, in accordance with
a boundary line, which the republic
of Panama had formally declared
clear and indisputable, stiff remains,
in the opinion OF the American govo
ernment, the territory OF Costa Rica.
After stating that the American
government desires Panama to take
steps to turn over the territory to
Costa Rica, the note says, unless
such steps are taken within reason
able time. the United States will find
itself compelled to proceed in the
manner which may be requisite in
order that it may assure itself that
the exercise OF jurisdiction is appro-
priately transferred and that the
boundary line on the Pacific side as,
defined by the Loubet award, and
on the Atlantic side as determined
by the award by the chief justice of
the United States, is physically laid
down in the manner provided in
articles two and seven of the Porras-
Anderson treaty.
Reply to Note.
The note, which is in reply to
one from Panama dated March 18,
restates the American position in
detail. Referring to the statement of
Panama that its people are unani-
nous in their expressions against
recognition of the White award, the
note says that the American govern
ment 'has learned of these express
sions with deep regret but express
es confidence that "the people of
Panama will recognize the obliga-
ton of their government to comply
with the terms of the solemn agree
nents into which it has entered"
The United States, it adds, Can
not consider the suggestion made by
Panama that plebiscite be held as
a means of reaching final settle
ment, because of the obligation of
Panama under the Borras-Anderson
treaty to consider the award as a
perfect and compulsory treaty be-
tween Pann1a and Costa Rico"
The note asserts that there ap-
pears to be no foundation for the
claim that Panama SIS entitled to
retain territory on the Pacific side,
which confessedly does not belong
to Panama, because the government
of Panama is not satisfied with the
award of the chief justice of the
United States as to other territory
on the Atlantic side"
Chief Justice White did not exceed
his powers in fixing this boundary,