Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-05
.U[T|MATUM SENT To.
PANAMA BY HUGHES

Panama acts voluntarily within -
reasonable time" the United States
will take measures to compel her to
transfer jurisdiction of the disputed
Coto territory to Costa Rica Secre-
tary Hughes says in a recent note to
the Panama government. The text
of the document was made public
at the state department.
"This government believes that it
would be inadmissable to interpret
it's obligations to the republic of
Panama as embra cling an obligation
to support any claims for adjoining
territory which might be advanced
by the government of Panama no
matter what the opinion of this gov
eminent might be as to the validity
of justice of these claims" the note
says.
The boundary line as defined by
Chief Justice White still remains
in the opinion of the American gov
eminent, the note declares, "the ter
ritory of Costa RIGA, and is to be re-
spected as such.''
- The Panaman claim that its title
to the disputed territory had been
unchallenged since colonial times,
the note holds as in no way 'en-
titling 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.'
To Compel Acceptance
After stating that the American
government desires Panama to take
steps to turn over the territory in
question to Costa RIGA, the note says
reasonable 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 jurisdiction
is appropriately transferred and that
as defined by the Loubet award, and
on the Atlantic side, as determined
by the award by the chief justice of
the United States, is physically laid
down in the manner provided in ar
ticles and Z of the Porras-Anderson
The note concludes with an ex-
preston of regret that the United
States feels itself obliged to COM
municate to the government of Pan
anna this determination" but states
that it has been reached only after
the most careful and friendly de-
liberation.
The note, which is in reply to one
from Panama dated March 10, and
| received here April 81, restates the
American position in detail, examin-
ing anew the legal aspects of the
controversy although, at the same
time it says that an extended dis
cussion of the contentious advanced
by the government of Panama
should be unnecessary"
Referring to the statement of the
government of Panama that it's peo-
pie are unanimous in their expires
sions against recognition of the
American government has learned
of these expressions with deep re-
ret,' but expressions with deep re-
''the people of Panama will recog-
nize the obligation of their govern.
ment to comply with the terms of
the solemn agreements into which it
has entered"
The United States, it adds, "can-
not consider the suggestions made
by the government of Panama that
a plebiscite be held nthe territory
in dispute as a means of reaching
a final settlement of the controver-
sy," because of the obligation of
Panama under the Professionalism
treaty to consider the award as a
Nerfect and compulsory treaty be-
A7een the governments of Panama
I'd Costa Rica.
NO Foundation for Claim
The White boundary was not linn
ted by the Loubet award, the note
asserts, and adding that there APP
peers to be no foundation for the
.C that Panama 'is entitled to
4 n 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
n the Atlantic side"
Chief Justice White did not ex-
coed his powers and jurisdiction in
fixing his boundary, the note says,
adding that he had decided the pre-
else question which he had been
invested with jurisdiction to decide,
and the two parties to the dispute
were, by their most solemn engage
ment, bound to acacept his determi-
nation accordingly"