第80章

Mybeliefthenwas，andtheeventsthathaveoccurredsincehavemorethanjustifiedit，thatfromthestandpointoftheUnitedStatesitwasimperative，notonlyforcivilbutformilitaryreasons，thatthereshouldbetheimmediateestablishmentofeasyandspeedycommunicationbyseabetweentheAtlanticandthePacific。Thesereasonswerenotofconvenienceonly，butofvitalnecessity，anddidnotadmitofindefinitedelay。TheactionofColombiahadshownnotonlythatthedelaywouldbeindefinite，butthatsheintendedtoconfiscatethepropertyandrightsoftheFrenchPanamaCanalCompany。

ThereportofthePanamaCanalCommitteeoftheColombianSenateonOctober14，1903，ontheproposedtreatywiththeUnitedStates，proposedthatallconsiderationofthemattershouldbepostponeduntilOctober31，1904，whenthenextColombianCongresswouldhaveconvened，becausebythattimethenewCongresswouldbeinconditiontodeterminewhetherthroughlapseoftimetheFrenchcompanyhadnotforfeiteditspropertyandrights。“Whenthattimearrives。”thereportsignificantlydeclared，“theRepublic，withoutanyimpediment，willbeabletocontractandwillbeinmoreclear，moredefiniteandmoreadvantageouspossession，bothlegallyandmaterially。”ThenakedmeaningofthiswasthatColombiaproposedtowaitayear，andthenenforceaforfeitureoftherightsandpropertyoftheFrenchPanamaCompany，soastosecurethefortymilliondollarsourGovernmenthadauthorizedaspaymenttothiscompany。Ifwehadsatsupine，thiswoulddoubtlesshavemeantthatFrancewouldhaveinterferedtoprotectthecompany，andweshouldthenhavehadontheIsthmus，notthecompany，butFrance；andthegravestinternationalcomplicationsmighthaveensued。Everyconsiderationofinternationalmoralityandexpediency，ofdutytothePanamapeople，andofsatisfactionofourownnationalinterestsandhonor，badeustakeimmediateaction。I

recognizedPanamaforthwithonbehalfoftheUnitedStates，andpracticallyallthecountriesoftheworldimmediatelyfollowedsuit。

TheStateDepartmentimmediatelynegotiatedacanaltreatywiththenewRepublic。OneoftheforemostmeninsecuringtheindependenceofPanama，andthetreatywhichauthorizedtheUnitedStatesforthwithtobuildthecanal，wasM。PhilippeBunau-Varilla，aneminentFrenchengineerformerlyassociatedwithDeLessepsandthenlivingontheIsthmus；hisservicestocivilizationwerenotable，anddeservethefullestrecognition。

Fromthebeginningtotheendourcoursewasstraightforwardandinabsoluteaccordwiththehighestofstandardsofinternationalmorality。Criticismofitcancomeonlyfrommisinformation，orelsefromasentimentalitywhichrepresentsbothmentalweaknessandamoraltwist。TohaveactedotherwisethanIdidwouldhavebeenonmypartbetrayaloftheinterestsoftheUnitedStates，indifferencetotheinterestsofPanama，andrecreancytotheinterestsoftheworldatlarge。Colombiahadforfeitedeveryclaimtoconsideration；indeed，thisisnotstatingthecasestronglyenough：shehadsoactedthatyieldingtoherwouldhavemeantonourpartthatculpableformofweaknesswhichstandsonalevelwithwickedness。Asformepersonally，ifIhadhesitatedtoact，andhadnotinadvancediscountedtheclamorofthoseAmericanswhohavemadeafetishofdisloyaltytotheircountry，IshouldhaveesteemedmyselfasdeservingaplaceinDante’sinfernobesidethefaint-heartedclericwhowasguiltyof“ilgranrifiuto。”ThefactsIhavegivenabovearemerebaldstatementsfromtherecord。Theyshowthatfromthebeginningtherehadbeenacceptanceofourrighttoinsistonfreetransit，inwhateverformwasbest，acrosstheIsthmus；andthattowardstheendtherehadbeenanolessuniversalfeelingthatitwasourdutytotheworldtoprovidethistransitintheshapeofacanal——theresolutionofthePan-AmericanCongresswaspracticallyamandatetothiseffect。Colombiawasthenunderaone-mangovernment，adictatorship，foundedonusurpationofabsoluteandirresponsiblepower。Sheeagerlypressedustoenterintoanagreementwithher，aslongastherewasanychanceofourgoingtothealternativeroutethroughNicaragua。Whenshethoughtwewerecommitted，sherefusedtofulfiltheagreement，withtheavowedhopeofseizingtheFrenchcompany’spropertyfornothingandtherebyholdingusup。Thiswasabitofpurebanditmorality。ItwouldhaveachieveditspurposehadI

possessedasweak