File No. 819.1052/58.
Chargé Spencer to
the Secretary of State.
No. 746.]
American Legation,
Panama,
December 28, 1915.
Sir: Complying with the Department’s
instruction to obtain and report the views of Governor Goethals and
General Edwards regarding the recent note of Señor Lefevre
concerning the disarmament of the Panaman police, I have the honor
to herewith enclose copies of my letters in this sense to Governor
Goethals and General Edwards and also a copy of a reply thereto
received this morning from General Edwards.
It will be noticed from the enclosed reply of General Edwards that he
states “my views upon this matter are expressed in my letter of the
27th ultimo.” I beg to state that a copy of this letter was sent by
Minister Price to the Department in despatch No. 699 under date of
December 1 last.
I am not as yet in receipt of a reply from Governor Goethals to my
note of December 20.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1.]
Chargé Spencer to General Edwards.14
No. 637.]
American Legation,
Panama,
December 20,
1915.
Sir: With reference to the letters to
you from Minister Price, under date of October 19 and November
19 last, with their enclosures, regarding the disarmament of the
National Police of Panama of large arms, I have the honor to
inform you that I am in receipt of an instruction from the
Department of State informing me that before giving further
instructions in the matter they wish me to obtain and report
your views regarding Señor Lefevre’s note, “particularly as to
the claim made by him that the police are now forbidden to make
use of large arms in suppressing disturbances in the cities of
Panama and Colon.” This note referred to was sent by Mr. Price
as an enclosure in his letter, No. 601 of November 19, 1915, and
I shall be glad to transmit any reply you may care to make or
any suggestions you might offer.
I am [etc.]
[Inclosure 2.]
General Edwards to Chargé Spencer.
Headquarters United States Troops,
Panama Canal Zone,
Ancon, C. Z.,
December 27,
1915.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of the 20th instant in which you request
my views as to the attitude we should assume upon the question
of the disarmament of high-powered rifles and the Panaman Police
in view of Señor Lefevre’s claim that the police are now
forbidden to make use of these high-powered rifles in
suppressing disturbances in the cities of Panama and Colon. My
views upon this matter are expressed in my letter of the 27th
ultimo in answer to Mr. Price’s letter of the 19th ultimo. In
Señor [Page 1240] Lefevre’s
letter to Mr. Price great stress was laid upon the fact that the
police constituted the only armed force of the Panama
Government. I consider the objection to disarmament on the
ground that the police constitute a quasi military force of the
Republic of Panama a stronger argument against disarmament than
the promise not to use the rifles in times of disturbance.
Again, the Panama Government even if it were wise could not
afford to have a military force. My idea is to say that the
Commanding General has a large supply of small arms in magazine
for emergency use to arm civilians, but not enough, and to
suggest that their rifles be turned over to him to store for
such an emergency to arm Panamans.
Very sincerely,
