File No. 819.1052/49.
I conferred, also with Major General Goethals about this matter after
his recent return from the States and filed with him a letter
referring to Department’s instruction and requesting expression of
his opinion in the same matter. Major General Goethals states to me
that in the absence of farther reaching measures, such as taking
over the policing of these cities, being authorized by the
Department, he concurs in the expressions given by Brigadier General
Edwards, a copy of the letter aforesaid having been submitted by the
latter to the former, and that, being most busy with his annual
report which he is attempting to finish before going to the States
next week, he would ask that the said letter of Brigadier General
Edwards be taken as his response in this matter, with the prefatory
remark just above related.
[Inclosure—Extract.]
General Edwards to Minister Price.
Headquarters United States
Troops,
Panama Canal Zone,
Ancon, C. Z.,
July 13, 1915.
My Dear Mr. Minister: I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th ult., and
its enclosures relating to the question of reducing to definite
written terms the functions and powers of the American soldier
[Page 1227] patrols in the
cities of Panama and Colon. I have conferred with Governor
Goethals upon this question, and he concurs with me in the
following:
That it is not advisable to attempt any definite written
agreement as to the functions and powers of the patrols; the
present status is as satisfactory as any can be, short of
absolutely taking over the police and sanitation of the two
cities. No amount of preexistent written terms can meet abnormal
conditions in time of riot, and it is believed the present
working arrangement is as fully efficacious in the prevention of
riots and the stopping of them when started as would be any
agreement in definite written terms. I might add, however, that
in this General Goethals also agrees, that if you could secure
from the Panaman Government the disarmament of the Panaman
police of high-powered rifles, it would be an essential
precaution and the strict enforcement of the law against
carrying of weapons which now is the general practice would be
most wise.
I consider it not inappropriate to add in this letter the
following regarding the conditions that now obtain in Panama and
Colon: After the riot in Panama on February 14, 1915, the
American patrols in that city were increased in size and later a
company of infantry was brought to Balboa for station and took
up the duty of provost guard in the City of Panama. There were,
of course, no quarters for these troops and they have been and
are still living in tents.
A small provost guard has been maintained in the City of Colon by
the company of Coast Artillery Corps stationed at Cristobal. By
informal conferences with the Panaman officials, the authority
of these patrols has been quite definitely fixed, and there has
been now for several months an absence of friction.
The power possessed by those patrols is practically the power of
arresting of all soldiers and also sailors, except in the case
of felonies and serious crimes, and the turning over of the
soldiers and sailors arrested to the military and naval
authorities for trial. It is the purpose of the military
authorities to allow felonies and serious crimes to be tried by
Panaman courts, and also to allow arrests of soldiers and
sailors by the Panaman police in cases of less serious offenses
when the disturbance occurs in the absence of any members of the
American patrols.
At present the courts of both countries, military as well as
civil, are open and by arrangement ample notice is given by
either Government in order that a representative of the other
may be present at any trial. I consider it very necessary that
this arrangement be continued and ask you to pardon a suggestion
this matter be kept in mind in any conferences you may have at
different times with the Panaman authorities.
I may also add that the sale of deleterious drugs in the’
Republic of Panama is a serious danger to Americans, civilian as
well as soldiers. General Goethals informs me that he will
forward a letter requesting that as drastic action as possible
to prevent the sale of these drugs be taken by the President of
Panama by proclamation, with an added request that the Panaman
Government shall undertake its best offices to secure at the
next meeting, of its Legislature the passage of a bill as
drastic as our recent act (December 17, 1914) protecting the
people in this regard.
I may add that in my opinion the Panaman Government or the
municipal authorities should provide adequate shelter to take
care of the patrols when on actual duty in the cities of Panama
and Colon. Perhaps a request from you might accomplish this.
Very respectfully,
C. R. Edwards,
Brigadier General,
Commanding.
