Arizona republican., 1921-03-20
SAYS
 WHITE DECISION LIN COSTA RIGA 'PANAMA DISPUTE MUST bE FINAL
Government Position On Coto Dispute 'Unalter- able Position" of Admin istration; Justice Before Friendship
IRepublican A. p. Leased wirel

"
 WASHINGTON. March 1s-The de- cision of Chief Justice White in the Panama-Costa Rica boundary dispute must be the unalterable position Of the United States government, Presi- dent Harding declared today in reply to an appeal from President Porras ot Panama
 Although he expressed regret Pana- ma should feel wounded by the decision. described in the Porras message as painful and humiliating," MT. Harding declined to consider any other basis Of settlement and asserted that the state department note insisting on enforce ment of the decision had his party's ap- proval.
 The exchange between the two exec utives was in the nature of an ad interim discussion while the state de- partment awaited Panama's reply to it's note. Costa Rica has accepted ths White award
 President Porras recalled the ex- pressions of friendship from Panama given by MT. Harding last November during his visit there and voiced a hope that the Panamanian people might not be disappointed in their faith in the new administration. To this President Harding renewed his avowals of cor diality. but added that the exercise ot friendly relations always must be tenn pered by justice
 President Porras' cablegram said: l Demand from state department that my government would accept White decision is painful and humiliating. More so when two legislatures and all the municipalities in the republic have petitioned for the rejection of that de- cision on the ground that the arbitrator l notoriously exceeded its Jurisdiction. giving to Costa Rica more than what | her representative asked from Presi- dent Loubet and also because it is against provisions Of Panama's consti- tuition.
 T appeal to you, Mir President, re- calling your kind words with which you expressed your friendship and good wishes towards my county when you honored us with your visit in Novem- ber
 T beg of you. Mir President, to use your influence so that the boundary dispute may have solution more in accord with justice and dignity than the one we are being asked to accept. We Panamanians are confident in your righteousness and we hope that the confidence will not be rewarded with disappointmentr
 President Harding's reply said:
 The communications from our state department to the government of
 Panama and the government of Costa Rica have. been sent with the full knowledge and hearty approval of the executive.
 'It would be exceedingly distressing to me to believe that the government of Panama had cause to feel wounded or to assume for any reason the gov ! ernment of the United States Is in any way unmindful of our peculiar friendly relationship. with recognized mutu- . . aiity of interest. The friendly express ions made in your presence informally last November. are repeated now and , there is deep concern for full justice iI 1 the exercise of our friendly relation : ship.
 r Tt must be apparent. however that the decision of the chief justice of the !. United States in an arbitration submit
 ted to him and reached after exhaust : i've study and rendered in fullest deyo- 2 tion to justice. must be the unalterabls
 position of this government"