The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-08-26
VALIDITY OF ARBI-
TRATION AWARDS

BILE over an election was threatened in
the Republic of Panama, we sent down
William H. Taft. In the summer of
1921, when trouble over a boundary
dispute is feared, we send down a bat
talon of marines.
As to the hostile possibilities in the
boundary issue, we might be in bet
ter position to form Judgment if we
knew just how the prospecting for oil
in the isthmian Alsace Lorraine had
turned out. Last February, when an
armel collision seemed imminent, in
dications of oil had been discovered
and we'll boring was said to be in
progress. If the result was p gusher,
we may prepare for the worst. If on
" dry holes or wells Of few barrels
capacity were found. the question
probably can be easily adjusted. The
negotiation in 1905 of a treaty for the
demarcation of its boundary with Cos
ia RIGA was one of the early acts of
the newly instituted Panama Repub-
lie, and Secretary Hughes is right in
thinking that it is now high time it
was settled. The dispute was first re-
ferred to President Loubet of France,
who rendered an award as to- a part of
the line. Later, Chief Justice White
of this country arbitrated( the issue
and rendered, in 1914, decision which,
by incorporating the Loubet award,
was supposed to end the disagreement
as to the entire boundary.
Seven years later finds Panama still
unreconciled, and last spring it sent 4
nondescript force to prevent Costa
RIGA from taking possession of terri
tory it claims. American aid against
Cost RIGA was later asked by Pana-
mas President, which Mr.. Hughes now
refuses. He says he has been Off
cially informed that Costa RIGA is
about to assume title over the district
that has come to it under the award
Reviewing briefly tedious proceedings
that have already occupied sixteen
years, the Secretary says: There
would seem to be no reason why the
government of the United States
should, as the friendly mediator be-
tween the two governments, or by vir-
tue of it's special relations to the Gov
eminent of Panama, feel compelled to
suggest to the Government OF Costa
Rica that it delay longer in taking ju-
risdiction over the territory which was
adjudged to belong to Costa Rica by
the terms of the LOubct award"
But as, from the mere fact that one
of our officials was arbitrator in the
matter, we are under no obligation to
assist Panama by force as against
Costa Rica, so on the other hand, we
are under no obligation to assist Costa
Rica by force as against Panama. The
dispatch of fighters, instead of dis
tinguished harmonizer of differences,
as in 1908, is far from being an indi-
cation of warlike purpose. In fact, it
is distinctly stated that it is not plan
ned to use the marines in the disputed
section. That marines are sent while
we are urging universal disarmament
is reminder that Panama preceded us
in the disarming movement by many
years and pursued it, to length to
which we shall never gO--one leaving
it in more defenseless condition than
any other sovereign state in the world.
Believing itself secure under Ameri-
can protection, it sold all its weapons,
almost to the last musket. Unless it
has provided itself with munitions in
the last few weeks it is without eff
fective means of breaking the peace.
Under these circumstances the news
that battalion has been sent, stimuli
taneously with what might he consid-
cred an ultimatum from our govern
ment, may be expected to exert COLI
siderable moral force, as long as Pan
anna does not know why the battalion
is sent and will be unable to find out
what its orders are. If one result will
be to sustain the validity and force of
arbitration decisions. good viii be ac-
complished. For what could work
greater impairment of the arbitration
principle in international affairs than
an idea that one party to dispute is
privileged to reject tie results of i'm
partial adjudication and demand fur
Their arbitrament until, perchance, it
obtains decision that will suit it?
T,,.is little flare-up on the isthmus is
more important than the interests i'm
mediately involved. If small states,
with the tacit acquiescence of large
ones, can do what Panama is doing,
how long will it be before great pow
ers, after once having their day in
court, will be demanding another day
or indefinite series of days in courts,
when selfish interests are to be