73 8 Presidential Addresses 



pounders and mounted them on platform cars behind 

 protection of cotton bales, and then in company 

 with the United States consul had an interview with 

 Colonel Torres, in the course of which I informed 

 him that I had relanded my men because he had not 

 kept his agreement ; that I had no interest in the af- 

 fairs of either party; that my attitude was strictly 

 neutral; that the troops of neither side should be 

 transported; that my sole purpose in landing was 

 to protect the lives and property of American citi- 

 zens if threatened, as they had been threatened, and 

 to maintain the free and uninterrupted transit of the 

 Isthmus, and that purpose I should maintain by 

 force if necessary. I also strongly advised that in 

 the interests of peace, and to prevent the possibility 

 of a conflict that could not but be regrettable, he 

 should carry out his agreement of the previous even- 

 ing and withdraw to Monkey Hill. 



Colonel Torres's only reply was that it was un- 

 healthy at Monkey Hill, a reiteration of his love of 

 Americans, and persistence in his intention to occu- 

 py Colon, should General Tobal not give him direc- 

 tions to the contrary. 



On the return of the alcalde at about n A.M. the 

 Colombian troops marched into Colon, but did not 

 assume the threatening demeanor of the previous 

 day. The American women and children again went 

 on board the Marcomania and City of Washington, 

 and through the British vice-consul I offered protec- 

 tion to British subjects as directed in the Depart- 

 ment's cablegram. A copy of the British vice-con- 

 sul's acknowledgment is hereto appended. The 



