Omaha daily bee., 1921-03-18
U.S.Sends
Ultinlatun
To Panama
Hughes Dispatches Note Call
ing Oh Government to Abide
By Justice Whites De-
cision in Dispute.
Quick Action Demanded
By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha lee Leased Wire.

thirago Tribune-OmahR lee Leased Wire.
Washington, March H.-Another
move by the Harding administration
demonstrating its firm determination
10 discharge in full, American obi
cations in the western hemisphere,
ieavin gno room for interference by
the league of nations in American
affairs. was disclosed today.
Secretary OF State Hughes made
public the text of the note he dis
patched yesterday TO Panama, vir-
,ually an utimatum, demanding i'm
mediate acquiescence by that republic
in Chief Justice Whites settlement
OF the boundary dispute with Costa
Rica.
1t is the first lengthy note pro-
duced by the new secretary OF state
and embodies judicial analysis of
the dispute eliminating in the con-
.tlusion that Panama has not leg
40 stand on i'll declining to recog-
nize the White award. The document
Is interesting, also, not only as
sample OF legal arguments to be ex-
pected of Mr.. Hughes in information
al controversies OF great moment, but
as illumination of the frequently ex-
pressed opinions of lawyers that
when Mr.. Hughes has stated case
there is nothing left TO be said on
his side OF the dispute, il on the
other.
Calls for Settlement.
After calling on Panama to pro-
coed at once to arrange with Costa
Rioa for the appointment of an en-
gineering commission TO delimit
physically, the boundary decreed by
Chief Justice White, Secretary
Hughes concludes his note:
1T is to be hoped that the gov
crnment OF Panama will recognize
that motives of true and impartial
friendship for the governments of
Panama and Costa Rica prompt the
making of these representations to
the government of Panama. The
government of the United States
would view with apprehension a
continuance of this dispute, whic,,
has already given rise to hostilities
with attendant loss of life, if such
a continuance were caused by the re-
iusal on tine part of the government
of Panama to carry out obligations
which it has bound itself solemnly
TO perform, This government,
therefore, deems ii its dtity to ask
that the government Of Panama
definitely indicate its intention to
comply with the representations
made to it by the government of
the United States"
In taking this action. the admin
istration is actuated primarily by the
desire TO discharge the obligations
OF the United States arising from
its close aad special relationship to
the Republic OF Panama. Under the
Haye-B Bunau-Varilla treaty, the
United States undertook to guar
antee and maintain the independence
OF Panama. To perform this duty,
Mr. Hughes points out, it is neces-
sary for the United States to ad-
wise itself of'the territorial limits of
Panama.
No Scraps of Paper.
Moreover, discharge of the Ameri-
can obligation is conditioned upon
lanamas faithful observance CT
its own International obligations.
Mr.. Hughes makes it clear that
there are to be no treaty scraps of
paper" in American affairs.
The note is also significant of an
attitude of wider import on the part
of the administration. 1t is regarded
as betoking the intention on the part
OF the president and Mr.. Hughes, to
establish irmer policy in dealing
with the Latin American republics
than was pursued by the Wilson
administration.
By virtue OF the Monroe doctrine
the United States is the protector
of the other republics OF the western
hemisphere from European or Asia
tic aggression. The United States
has obligated itself to prevent any
~S'd world power from obligating any
more territory in this hemisphere.
Must Pay Debts.
At the same time. however, the
United States insists that the repub-
lies thus protected from foreign ag-
gression shall discharge their inter
national obligations. Mexico, for ex-
ample, cannot expect under this
policy. to escape payment OF its just
debts TO Europe or reparation for
the injuries sustained by foreigners.
Likewise the note is significant OF
the determination of the new admin
istration to enforce settlement of dis
putes on this side of the world i'll
a manner that would make interven-
ton by the league OF nations who'll
ly gratuitous and repugnant to the
United States. In this particular dis
pute, Panama appealed to the league
OF which it is member. The United
States was not pleased by this move,
and has proceeded promptly and Wig
orously to settle the dispute itself, in
accord with the principle OF non-en-
tanglement OF America in the affairs
OF Europe and non-intervention
by Europe in the affairs of America.
When this had been made clear. Sir
Eric Drummond, secretary OF the
league, announced that the appeal
would not be entertained. inasmuch