Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-08-23
PANAMA MAY:
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USE ARMS
Prepared To Resist Costa
Rican Occupation of Cote
Territory.
FORCE TO DISTRICT
Capital Officials Say United States
Must Stand Pat On White
Award.

Panama, Aug. 23.-Panama is pre-
pared and ready TO repel the Costa
Ricans should they invade the disput
ed Coto territory. No definite action
will be taken. however, until it has
been learned what attitude the United
States Government will adopt toward
Panama in the event the Panamans
oppose the taking over Of COto by the
Costa Ricans.
Gable messages sent by the Pana
man Government to Washington, with
the view of ascertaining tie Amcri
can Governments attitude toward
Panaman resistance TO Costa Rlcan
occupation Of Coto have not been am
Swered.
Armed men to the number Of 80
have been ordered to proceed TO Coto
from David. They will take with
them ten machine guns. which were
purchased in the United States last
April.
Secretary of Government and jus
tice A!faro has given orders to Chief
Of Police Arrange to hold the entire
police force Of Panama and Colon in
readiness to march to Coto. Identical
orders have been sent the heads of
the police forces in interior towns.
MAYORS have been ordered to re-
wise their volunteer lists and to adj
wise the men to be ready for an
emergency.
San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, Aug.
23.-The Government has issued de-
cree of a state of siege throughout
the republic The disturbed condition
in the northern departments is given
as the reason.
All is quiet in the departments of
Chinindeea, Leon. Msnagua, Granada.
CaraZo and RivaS.
Washington. Aug. 23.-ln the opin-
ion Of high officials Of the Harding
Administration it would be fatal to
the prestige of the United States in
Latin-American if Panama were al
lowed to occupy territory which has
been awarded TO Costa Rica.
In simple justice, it is held, Costa
Rica is entitled to the territory west
Of the boundary line fixed in the
award Of the late Chef Justice White
on the Atlantic side and to Coto dis
trict on the Pacific, which Panama
comedies to be Costa Rican. but which
has been held for years by Panama as
a sort of lever To force concessions
from Costa Rica on the Atlantic end
Of the harbor.
In reply to Pauama'S contention
that Justice White exceeded his au-
thority as arbitrator, officials point
out that it was impossible TO run the
line under the original Loubct award
and that was the sole reason the mat
ter was submitted to Justice White.
Both Panama and Costa Ric2
agreed to accept the award OF jus
ticc White as final, but when it was
found to give Costa Rica territory
claimed by Panama the latter refused
To accept 1t.
The battalion of United States
marines now enroutc to Panama is un-
der the command Of Major Thomas
=. Clarke. 1t cOiSlSLS Ol t"o LilIc
companies and oac machine gun com
pany. with battalion headquarters
detachment and a hospital section.
officials here express the belief that
the transfer of civil authority in the
Coto district from Panama to Costa
Rica will be accomplished without dis
order. The American. marines will be
landed on the Pacific side, if at all,
at point most convenient to Coto
The settlement of Coto. it was eX-
planned, is miles west Of the Loubct
boundary, which was formerly accept
ed by Panama and Costa Rica AZ fl
nal and binding. The boundary ter
ritory is wild and sparsely settled.