The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-23
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20. 1921.
Secretary Hughes on Coto.

OUR TelatlOuS Win PaHAnld dS
ruarantor and protector rest prima-
rily on the first article OF the treaty
concluded in November, 1908, be-
tween Secretary JOHN HAY. represent
ing the United States, and PHILIPPE
.BUNAU-VARHLA, representing the
then newly enfranchised and estab-
.lished isthmian republic:
're "The United States guarantees and
!. will maintain the independence of
's'the Republic OF Panama"
: Article XIII. Of the Hay-Bunau-
varilla treaty provides the right Of
military entry:
IF it should become necessary at
any time to employ armed forces for
the safety or protection Of the canal,
or of the ships that make use OF the
:, same. or the railways and auxiliary
works, the United States shall have
the right at all times and in its dis
= erection to use its police and It's land
and naval forces or to establish forth
ncations for these purposes"
- Few people here are familiar with
the details Of the boundary contro-
versy between Panama, our protege,
md its neighbor Costa Rica, our very
good Central American friend. Prob
ably yet fewer people in this country
care about the exact merits O. the
case at issue. The essential fact is
that the dispute has been examined
and arbitrated twice, in each instance
by disinterested and most compe-
tent authority. The first award was
TO Costa Rica by President LoUBET
OF France. The second arbitral deci-
sion as to the delimitation of the
boundary was rendered by the late
nChief Justice WHITE, to whom the
question was referred under the Por-
.ras-Anderson convention.
~ Secretary HuGHEs's note to Pan
ana proceeds from perfectly well
defined national responsibility and it
expresses a perfectly clear national
duty. The question has been adjudi-
Gated, more than a score of years ago.
by the impartial Loubet arbitration
and affirmed as recently as 1914 by
the decision Of the Chief Justice Of
the United States, acting as
friendly referee in dispute between
two friendly Central American States.
TO one OF which, under the Hay
r,Bunau-varilla treaty, this Govern
Jnent holds special and exceptional
relations. At the instance of the
United States Costa Rica has delayed
taking possession Of the territory
thus awarded to her, and the delay
f.. has been suggested simply by de-
sire at Washington that the settle
ment should be achieved with the
least possible friction. The time has
come to bring the matter to a def
mite conclusion in the interests of
peace and justice.
The despatch OF small body of
United States marines to the region
OF the Canal Zone probably signifies
10 more than the exhibition of the
sheriff's badge as formal warning
that the arbitral decision must be
cbeyed instanter. The military force
= already on the isthmus and the naval
forces Immediately available in both
: oceans are undoubtedly sufficient for
any police duty required to preserve
the peace in the Coto region or else
\ where along the Panama-Costa Rica
frontier. The expedition from Phil
adelphia is but gesture Indicating
The Administration determination
TO insure the execution OF an arbi-
trail decree. irrevocable and unques-
tionable as far as the United States
- concerned, AID essential 20 that
roncy which Is the keystone of the
arch in the Western Hemisphere
--,,v.cn. amt; and friendship among
Gsss ..--~-I1can repuprcs.
- This is another impressive illus.
Grafton of what we have escaped by
..5Iot being tied up and interviewer
IN the Geneva League of Nations.