Western Hemisphere 33
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The United States was significantly angered that Colombia rejected the
Hay-Herran Convention signed in early 1903 that would lease to the United States
the land necessary for the Panama Canal. The rejection came shortly after the United
States threatened violence if the terms of the convention were not ratified by Colom-
bia’s Congress. The United States sought full ratification of the terms, without amend-
ment, but was rebuffed when the Colombian Senate rejected the convention on August
12 and adjourned on October 31, 1903, without further consideration of the treaty.
An uprising in Panama City occurred on November 3, 1903, in large part because
of Panamanian fears that the canal project would eventually go to Nicaragua. The
United States recognized the renegade Republic of Panama shortly thereafter because
it was dedicated to the construction of a canal through the Panamanian isthmus. The
USS Nashville was deployed to the vicinity to prevent Colombian ships from compel-
ling the Panamanians. The USS Dixie arrived soon to assist in blocking Colombian
supports from arriving Panama City. By now, the new Panamanian government had
secured the recognition of several European states and had the support of the US
government as well. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty was ratified by the United States
on February 25, 1904, giving the Americans guarantees of the Panama Canal and the
Panama Canal Zone.
2 United States of America/101 Venezuela
MID#2338
Dispute Number: 2338
Date(s): January 15, 1901 to January 17, 1901
Participants: 101 Venezuela/2 United States of America
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute concerns the seizure of the Orinoco. The ship was British,
and the company was nominally British as well. However, the company’s stockhold-
ers were almost entirely American, and the British announced that it was not going to
press the Orinoco claim, largely expecting that the United States would do that given
their ongoing (and related) problems with a Venezuelan state in domestic turmoil.
The fact that most of the stockholders were Americans was a large part of that deci-
sion by the British. The United States did protest, with both a threat and a show of
force, moving battleships in position should force be necessary. The Superior Court
of Cumano eventually decided in favor of the British asphalt company and the matter
was resolved on February 3, 1902. An award ultimately came almost 10 years later.
The company had to file charter in the state of New Jersey in order to use the resources
of the American government to push for indemnity.
Coding changes: Participant changed: Britain purposefully did not protest the seizure
of the Orinoco knowing that the Americans would protest. The United States is the