The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-05-05
PANAMA WARNED
BY WASHINGTON
y. S. Take Measure to
Force Acceptance Of
Disputed Territory

| WASHINGTON, d. C.-Unles1
Panama acts voluntarily within /
reasonable time" the United States
will take measures to compel her t
transfer jurisdiction of the disputed
Coto territory to Costa Rica, Secre
tary Hughes says in a recent note tt
the Panama government. The tex,
of the document was made public
Monday at the state department.
This government believes it would
be inadmissible to interpret its OBJ
legations to Panama as embracing an
obligation to support any claims for
adjoining territory which might be
advanced by Panama no matter what
the opinion of this government must
be to the validity of the claims, the
note says. 4
Panama's claim that it's title to the
disputed territory had been unchal-
lenged since colonial times, the note
holds as in no way emitting Panama
to demand the occupation of territory
which Is not part of Panama, and
has been conclusively adjudged to
belong to Costa Rica.''
"That territory which was adj.
judged to be a portion of the terri-
tory of the republic of Costa Rica, ;,
the note declared, in accordance with
a boundary line which the republic of
Panama had formally declared clear
and indisputable, "still, remains, in
the opinion of the American govern
ment, the territory of Costa Rica."
After stating that the American
government desires Panama to take
steps to turn over the territory to
Costa Rica, the note says unless
such steps are taken within a reason
able time, 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 jurisdiction is appro-
priately transferred, and that the
boundary line on the Pacific side, as
defined by the Loubet award, and
on the Atlantic side, as determined
by the ward of the chief justice of
the United States, is physically laid
down in the manner provided in
articles II and VII of the Porras-
Anderson treaty."
The note, which is in reply to one
from Panama dated March 1S, re-
states the American position in de-
tail. Referring to the statement of
Panama that it's people are unani-
nous in their expressions against
recognition of the White award, the
note says that the American govern
ment "has learned of these express
sions with deep regret" but ex-
presses confidence that "the people
of Panama will recognize the obliga-
tion of their government to comply
with the terms of the solemn agree
ments into which it has entered
The United States, it adds, "can
not consider the suggestion made by
Panama that plebiscite be held as
q means of reaching a final settle
ment, because of the obligation OF
Panama under the Porras-Anderson
treaty to consider the award as a
perfect and compulsory treaty be-
tween Panama and Costa Rica."
The note asserts that there appears
to be no foundation for the claim
that Panama 'is entitled to retain
territory on the Pacific side which
does not belong to Pana-
ma, because the government of
Panama is not satisfied with the
award Of the chief justice of the
United States as to other territory on |
he Atlantic side"
Chief Justice White did not exceed |
lis powers in fixing this boundary,
hQ nnfn co ua N ~ - NJ.