Evening star., 1921-05-03
u. s. TELLSPANAMA
. TOG|VE UP LAND
Secretary Hughes Orders
Territory Transferred to
Costa Rica at Once.

i Unless Panama acts voluntarily
within "a reasonab bic time" the United
States will take measures to compel
her to transfer jurisdiction OF the
disputed Coto territory to Costa Rica'
Secretary Hughes says in u recent
note to the Panama government.
The note. which is in reply to one
from Panama dated March Is. re
states the American position IN detail
examining anew the legal aspects OF
the controversy. although at the same
time it says that an extended dls-
cusson of the contentious advanced
by the government of Panama shouio
be unnecessary.
Il Referring to the statement of the
government of Panama that its people
are unanimous in their expressions
against recognition OF the Whlte
award. the note says the american
government has learned of these eH-
pressionS with deep regret. but eN
presses confidence that the people or
+ Panama will recognize the obligation
Of their government to comply with
the terms of the solemn agreements
into which it has entered.
Plebiscite Idea Rejected.
The United States. it adds. cannot
consider the suggestion made by the
government of Panama that plebis-
, cite be held in the territory in DIS
pute as means OF reaching maj
: settlement Of the controversy. be-
cause of the obligation of Panama
under the Porras- Anderson treaty to
''consider the award as a perfect and
-, compulsory treaty between the gov
ernmentS of Panama and Costa lica.
| The White boundary was not limited
by the Loubet award, the note as
sertS. adding that there appears to be
! no foundation for the claim that
| Panama "is entitled to retain territory
! on the Pacific side which confesSedly
! does not belong to Panama. because
| the government OF Panama is not
! satisfied with the award of the Chief
Justice of the United States as to
! other territory on the Atlantic side"
! Chief Justice White did not exceed
his powers and jurisdiction in fixing
! his boundary, the note says. adding
J that he had decided the precise ques-
! tion which he had been invested with
jurisdiction to decide. and the two
parties to the disput were. by their
! most solemn engagement. bound to
accept his determination accordingly"
Costa Rica's Territory.
! This government believes that it
! would be inadmissible to interpret its
/ obligations 10 the Republic of Pan
anna as embracing an obligation to
! support any claims for adjoining ter
ritory which might be advanced by
! the government of Panama. no matter
what the opinion of this government
of these claims. the note says.
! The Panaman claim that its title
to the disputed territory had been un-
| challenged since colonial times. the
! note holds as in no way "entitling
/ the government of Panama to demand
| the occupation of territory which is
not a part of the Republic Of Panama
and has been conclusively adjudged to
/ belong to Costa Rica."
! THAT territory which was adjudged
/ to be portion of the territory of the
Republic of Costa Rica." the ote de-
1 clares. in accordance with boundary
! line which the Republic of Panama
had formally declared clear and in
idisputable "stil remains, in the opin-
| ion of the American government. the
territory of Costa Rica and is to be
respected as such"
| After stating that the American gov
ernment desires Panama to take steps
! to turn over the territory in question
/ to Costa Rica. the note says unless
such steps are taken within a rea-
/ sOnable time. the government of the
! United States will find itself compelled
{ to proceed in the manner which may
! be requisite in order that it may
assure itself that the exercise of juris-
| diction is appropriately transferred
and that the boundary line on the
Pacific side. az defined by the Loubet
/ award, and on the Atlantic side, as
/ determined by the award by the Chief
Justice of the United States, is physia
!, cally laid down in the manner prog
vided in articles and Z of the Por-
! ras-Anderson treaty"