Evening star., 1921-08-22
U. S. TROOPS SENT
into panama AS
MERE PRECAUT|ON
Marines Not Likely to Fire a
! Shot Is the Official
Prediction.
COSTA RIGA is UPHELD
In BOUNDARY DISPUTE
Secretary Hughes Informs Panama
mo Valid Reason" Exists for
Delaying Settlement.

While United States marines were
sailing southwark today to stand by
when Costa Rica marches her forces
into the tiny bit of territory whose
ownership Panama has so earnestly
and long contested. officials here ex-
pressed the opinion they would have
a pleasant cruise and probably never
fire a rifle.
The Navy Department was request
ed by the State Department to send
the marines, and Secretary DENLY of
the former department said the action
was purely precautionary. He em-
phasiZed that no action was antici-
pated and the belief generally was
felt that the territorial dispute would
| be amicably adjusted.
| Secretary Hughes note to the gov
ernment of Panama, published today,
definitely declared 1T the opinion of
! the State Department that there ex-
! lists mo valid reason" for Costa Rica
! further to delay the occupation oe
| the disputed territory.
Costa Rica to Take Possession.
The next development growing out
of the boundary controversy is expect
ed to be the formal entry by Costa
Rican forces of the Coto district, on
| the Pacific side. Panama forces now
! there are believed not TO number
more than five or six police. 1t is
1 not proboble, il was believed here.
| that Costa Rica would find il
| necessary TO send into the region
! more than company of soldiers at
! the most and unless unforeseen arm
ed resistance is offered. the marines
who are being transported on the bat
tleship Pennsglyanf; will not be land
| ed.
The Pennsylvania. which took on
haffa1ian of N
co. will move through the Panama
canal, join the Pacific fleet and re-
main within touch of the mainland.
! where the commanding officer can
easily be communicated with by the
officer in charge of the Costa Rican
! force.
/ The marine battalion consists Of two
rifle companies and one machine gun
! company with a battalion headquarters
detachment and auxiliary weapons. The
troops Were provided. with a hospital
section consisting OF Three medical Off
GERS and detachment of Hospital Corps
men, Maj. Gen. Lejeune, the Marine
Corps commandant, announced today.
Note Backs Costa Rica.
The policy of the United States with
! reference to the execution of the
| White award in the boundary dispute
/, between Panama and Costa Rica was
| expressed in note sent by Secretary
Hughes TO the President of Panama
August 16. in reply to an appeal for
reconsideration of the question. The
note. made public today. follows:
The government of the United
States has received the note ad-
dressed by the government of Panama
on August 6.
Statements Carefully Considered.
after the most careful considera-
tion OF the statements contained in
the note of the government of
Panama above referred to, this gov
ernment has reached the conclusion
that the arguments advanced in this
communication have already been
fully answered in previous notes. 1t
is greatly regretted that il has prov
ed to be impossible for the govern
! mentS of Panama and Costa Rica to
come to direct agreement for the
delimitation of that portion of the
boundary between the two republics
laid down by the White award.
In view of the fact that the gov
ernment of Panama appears unwilling
to carry out this delimitation in the
manner provided in the Porras-An-
derson convention. and inasmuch
as a reasonable time mentioned in
the note of this government dated
May 2. 1921. for the reaching of an
agreement as to the manner of car
rying out this delimitation has already
been afforded. there would seem to
be no reason why the government
of the United States should, as the
friendly mediator between the two
governments, by virtue of its said
relations ito the government of
Panama, feel compelled to suggest to
the government of Costa Rica that
it delay longer taking jurisdiction
over the territory which is now oc-
cupied by Panama and which was ad-
judged to belong to Costa Rica by
the terms of the Loubet award.
Costa Ricn's Claim.
The government of the United
States is now advised by the gov
eminent of Costa Rica that since it
considers that the Porras- Anderson
convention is in force, and since it
believes that there is no valid rea-
son for delaying it's complete exc
cution any longer, it is ready to as
sumo Immediately the jurisdiction
lover the territory above referred to-"
In the absence of any official orders
from the government of Panama, the
minister from Panama, Senior J. E.
Lefevre, and Narcisco Garay, foreign
minister. declined to comment today
upon the action of the United States
in sending marines to the former
country. Mr. Garay is in Washing
ton upon special mission, but expects
to leave soon.