New-York tribune., 1921-03-20
Plea of Panama President
for Executive Interfer-
ence in Border Deci-
sion Promptly Refused
Says U. S. Position
lis "Unalterable'' =
Latin Ruler, in Appeal,
Recalls Expressions of
Good Will During Visit

WASHINGTON, March 19.-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-
aent Harding declared to-day in reply
to personal appeal from President
Porras of Panama.
Aitnough he expressed regret that
Panama should feel wounded bv the
Wnite decision, described in Seiior
rorras's message as painful and hu-
initiating" Mr.. Harding declined to
consider any other basis of settlement
and asserted that the recent State De-
partment note insisting on enforce
ment of the decision had his hearty
approval.
The exchange between the two Exec
utives, made public textually to-night
at the White House, was in the nature
If an ad interim discussion while tho
state Department awaited Panama'A
reply to its note. Costa Rica already
has accepted the White award. and
some definite answer from Panama
now is expected within few days.
Presidents Visit Recalled
In making his appeal President Por.
ras recalled the. expressions of friend
snip Tor Panama given by Mr.. Harding
last November during his visit there
as President-elect, and voiced a hops
that the Panaman people might not
be disappointed in their faith in tho
new Administration at Washington.
To this President Harding replied by
renewing his avowals of cordially, but
added that the exercise of friendly re.
lations always must be tempered by
justice.
The message from the Panamanian
President was received late yesterday,
and before replying Mr.. Harding held a
long conference to-day with Secretary
Hughes. 1t is understood that they
not only went over in detail the latest
information regarding the situation be-
tween the two Central American re-
publics, but also discussed the broad
questions of policy involved in a final
determined insistence on the position
taken by this government. The text of
President Porras's cablegram follows:
Demand from State Department mt that
my government would accept Whites
decision is painful and humiliating;
more so when two successive legisla-
lures and all the municipalities in the
republic have petitioned for the rejec-
tion of that decision on the ground
that the arbitrator notoriously ex-
ceeded his jurisdiction, giving to Costa
Rica more than her representative,
Peralta, asked from President Loubet,
and also because it is against the pro-
visions OF Panama's constitutions
81 ANIMAL thQrnfora 1iroofIu IN vo,,
Mr.. President. recalling your kind
words with which you expressed your
friendship and good wishes toward my
country when you honorcd US with your
visit in November. Il addyess myself to
the magistrate who loves justice and
equity so that my country's cause may
be better appreciated, and that we may
be classified among the nations with
elf-consciousness and dignity that
feels herself deeply wounded with the
State Departments demand.
Personal Influence Solicited
II beg of you, Mr.. President, to use
your personal, political and admins
trative influence so that the boundary
dispute between Panama and Costa
Rica may have a solution more in ac-
cord with justice and dignity than the
one which we are being asked to ac-
in your righteousness and we hope that
the confidence will not be rewarded
with disappointment"
Following is President Harding's re-
ply:
"The communications from our State
Department to the government of PAN
ANA and the government of Costa Rica
have been sent with the full knowledge
and hearty approval of the Executive.
ut 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 peculiarly friend
ly relationship, with recognized mu-
tuality of interest The friendly ex-
pressions made in your presence in
formally, last November, are repeated
now. and there is deep concern for
full justice in the exercise of our
friendly relationship
ut must be apparent, however, that
the decision of the Chief Justice of the
United States, in an arbitration sub
mitted to him, and reached after ex-
haustive study and rendered in fullest
devotion to justice, must be the unal-
terable position of this government"