File No. 319.1123L25/12
Minister Price to
the Secretary of State.
No. 579.]
American Legation,
Panama
,
August 9, 1915
.
Sir: Supplementing my despatch No. 572 of
July 30, 1915, I have the honor now to transmit a copy of the report
made to Brigadier General Clarence R. Edwards, Military Commander of
the Canal Zone, by 2nd Lieut. Robert C. F. Goetz, 1st F. A., A. D.
C., upon the investigation, conducted by him after departure of Col.
J. L. Chamberlain, of the riot between our soldiers and Panaman
police and civilians in the city of Colon on April 2 last.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Extract.]
Report of Lieutenant Goetz.
* * * * * * *
conclusion.
* * * In the investigation of the Colon riot there is no evidence
to show that there was any firing by the soldiers or citizens
either foreign or American and I do not believe there was any.
There was firing by the provost guard, but in every instance it
was a case of returning the fire of the policemen. To my mind it
was a very deplorable state of affairs. Here were the officers
of the law, hired by the Government of Panama to keep peace, and
they were the very ones to sneak into the passageways of the
buildings, accentuate the trouble, making it an affair of life
and death by their wanton and promiscuous firing.
Their firing was unprovoked, not justified, and not to handle any
immediate situation that called for drastic action, but with
apparently one idea in mind, to kill. The whole police situation
of the two terminal cities of the Canal deserves our immediate
attention and action.
I would recommend that the entire police control of Panama City
and Colon be taken over by our Government; that American
policemen, with a speaking knowledge of Spanish, be put there;
Panaman arrests to be turned over to the Government of Panama
for punishment or their proper disposition; American and foreign
citizens and soldiers to be disposed of the same as in our own
territory.
Robert C. F. Goetz.
2nd Lt. F. A., A. D. C.
