The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-11
PANAMA REFUSES ID ACCEPT WHITE
 TERRITORY AWARD
Agrees to Withdrawal But Ap' peals to League for Settle ment of Dispute With
 Costa Rica
By Associated Presa

Washington, March 10.-Refusal of Fan anna to accept the White territorial award as basis for peace with Costa Rica and appeal by Panama to the League of Ma tions for settlement of the dispute is ex- pected by some officials here to plans before the American government the probable necessity of defining for the first time its attitude toward the jurisdiction of the League of Nations in disputes on the American continent
 Panama, in replying to the note of the state department last Saturday demand ing immediate cessation of hostiities be- tween her forces and those of Costa Rica, agreed to the retirement of her troops from Coto, where they were prior to the break between the two govern ments. February 2i. Costa Rica, in agree ing to a settlement on the basis of the White award, has withdrawn her troops from the disputed territory.
 The Panama note, the text of winch was made public today at the state de- pertinent. was understood to be unsatls- factory to department officials. There was belief that the counter proposal ot- l fered by Panama for mediation Of the j dispute by commission of disinterested | persons might be used by, the American government as a basis for further nego- tiations.
 1 OFFICIALS INTERESTED
 Although lacking official confirmation of the appeal of Panama to the League of Nations officials evidenced interest III a press dispatch from Geneva saying the text of such appeal had been receiVed | by the secretary of the League of Nations there, The dispatch indicated that the League of Nations council might give ar- tention to settlement of the conflict, and I in that connection it was pointed out here that both Panama and Costa Rica are members of the league the latter having been elected to membership at the last meeting of the league assembly.
 The league was called on to take cog nizance of one dispute in the American hemisphere at the meeting of it's assem- bly, last November. The Tocna Arica controversy, involving Peru. Chile an
 Bolivia, three members. of the ieag'
 was referred for settlement by P
 but later withdrawn, the represent
 of Peru expressing the hope that 4 the question was submitted at U
 meeting the United States wou'
 become member.
 DIPLOMATS PUZZLE Diplomatic circles here profe' 4 frankly puzzled to the possi ! tuoe which the United States a. II member of the league might assu
 refekence to any attempt by the l to settle a purely American dlsp F is understood that the uncertainty ' point which the Wilson aofnlnl \ never determined to define was \ reason for deferring action in the 1 Africa matter.
 Some officials of the government stated in the past that the proff'
 the league of it's good offices in Sc | a dispute on the American continent l in no wise be interpreted as an inIrh
 ment of the Monroe doctrine, iasmucn numerous controversies in South Amer,
 formerly have been arbitrated py ropean rnonarchs and heads or s.ates. | State department officials or the ne" | .dn,inlstration stated today that the pos a;hIe involvement of the league as . " suit of the appeal of Panama would pe | met when the issue was raiseo.
 TEXT OF NOTE
 rhe text of Panamas reply to the l American demand. as given out tooAys l follows:
 to vour excelency that it has given in- 1 strmctions already to our military forces I that they retire from Coto. but that our 1 civil and police authorities Will remain l there as before the Costa Rican assres 1 sinn of F-ebruary 2l. and that this act or { psnama inspired in the desire of put 1,ns an end 10 the armed conflict which ras been imposed upon it against Us will. should not be interpreted in any case as an implied recognition or the I W hite award which the executive power. the legislative assembly ana the n,,hl;c opinion of Panama have Jolntiy raf,.sed to accept since 1914, the year or which 1t was rendered.
 q do not wish to close, MT. MinisteT, without having your exceiiency to iaNe 1 note that the republic of Panama was I sntov;nr the benefits of internal and ex- tcrnal peace. applying itself to work, 70 | .Le cultivation of the arts ana Ve sriances and in friendly relations with aII the peoples of the earth, when sud- denlv like a thunderbolt out of clear l sLvN fell the unexpected and un1ustnieu attacl upon it by the government or l Costa Rica ,,,A .< th> mediation interposed by the government of the limited States in the armed con- si;ct which to our grief Costa Rica nas io,nossd upon us. Panama reserves the r,gbt of establishing, and of making eL l factfve in the course of the mediation. the respon abilities which Costa Hica nas ;,se,-ras bv reason of it's unduaiifiaDie l attack and of demanding the opnsat.on as identifying us for the damage in- o,,rrsa and for the expenditures of the dsfensive expedition which. by it's Iauit. ws have seen the necessity of eduippsnx and organizing;