Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Monday 9 November 1903, page 5


THE PANAMA QUESTION.

AMERICA SUPPORTING

PANAMA.

WARSHIPS HASTENING TO

THE ISTHMUS.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S

ADVICE.

LONDON, Nov. 6.

In connection with the action by the de-partment of Panama in proclaiming its in-dependence and imprisoning the Governor and the authorities, the Colombian military force on the isthmus was withdrawn on the revolutionists releasing these officials.

President Roosevelt has recognised the provisional Government of Panama.

LONDON, Nov 7.

The following United States war-ships are hastening to Panama, the Pacific terminus of the railway across the isthmus: – The armoured ship Wyoming, 3,235 tons, 6 guns, the gun vessel Concord 1,710 tons, 6 guns the cruiser Marblehead, 2089 tons, 10 guns, and the Nero.

Rear-Admiral Henry Glass, commander of the training station at San Francisco, will command the naval forces at Panama, and Rear-Admiral Joseph B. Coghlan, the second in command on the North Atlantic station, will command the naval forces at Colon, the atlantic terminus of the rail-

way.

The policy of the United States is to protect the new Panama republic, and prevent any attempts to land Colombian troops on

the isthmus.

Colombia firmly protested against the encouragement of the insurrection in Panama by the United States, or the recognition of the new republic.

President Roosevelt earnestly recommends the Governments of Colombia and Panama to arrive at a peaceful settlement, adding that the United States are bound not only by treaty, but in the interests of civilisation to see that peaceful traffic

across the isthmus is not disturbed by a constant succession of unnecessary and wasteful civil wars.

Our New York correspondent wrote as follows on September 10: – "Some months ago I predicted in one of these letters that hereafter–possibly in the near future–the extension of the power and sovereignty of the United States would be southward, owing chiefly to the projected construction of an isthmus canal. At the present time, the failure of our negotiations with Colombia for a reasonable canal to city tends m directly to promote an acquisition of territory on the isthmus If we should make a canal on the Nicaragua route, both Nicar-agua and Costa Rica would in time inevit-ably become possessions of the United States. In the case of the isthmus provinces of Colombia the situation is of a different kind. The attitude of Colombia is most exasperating. Owing to a sentimental preference in this country for the Nicaragua louie distinctly inferior to the route at Panama authority to buy the Panama Canal Company's lights and property and to negotiate with Colombia for a canal, was obtained from Congress with great difficulty. With Colombia's representative at Washington a treaty was made. We were to pay the French Canal Company 40,000,000dol., and Colombia was to receive l0,000,000dol., with an annual rental of 250,000dol. The canal strip was to be leased for 100 years, with the privilege of renewal and careful provision was made for a kind of joint sovereignty with respect to the administra-tion of law. Ratification of this treaty in the Senate was procured by a very narrow margin and it was 1 notice that any substantial modification of it by Colombia would cause the rejection of it here. By what is called a Congress in Colombia this treaty his been rejected. In the Colombian Senate the whole thing was thrown out by unanimous vote ostensibly because these sensitive Spanish Americans were offended by the representations of our Foreign Office that substantial amendments should have the treaty at Washington, but really because these brigands believed they could extort more money from our Govern-ment and the French company. We have learned to-day what their demands are. The Colombian Senate proposes now to authorise President Marroquin require to make a new treaty upon the basis of a first payment of 20,000,000dol. (instead of 10,000,000dol.), and an annual rent of 400,000dol. (instead of 250,000dol.), provided that the French Cable Company will pay to Colombia 10,000,000dol. of the 40,000,000dol. it is to receive from us. At the same time, Colombian sovereignty is so to be maintained in the canal strip that we can exercise little power there. This

appears to be the end of our negotiations

with Colombia for these terms will not be accepted and our Congress has directed Mr.

Roosevelt to provide for making a canal on the Nicaragua route if he cannot reach a satisfactory agreement concerning the route at Panama. There is still to be taken into account the possible and even probable secession of the province or state in which this route lies, the independence of it, and the negotiation of a treaty with a new re-public of the isthmus. We shall be fortu-

nate if we go through this canal business without having our national honour smirched. The pressure in our own country for a canal, and the desire of the civilised world for the construction of it, will tend to make some of our statesmen disregard the moral questions involved if the turbulent and greedy ruling element in Colombia offers unreasonable opposition."