The Corpus Christi Caller

COSTA RICAN FORAY LOOMS AS FIREBRAND
Conflict That May Draw In All of Central America Feared
UNITED STATES MAY SEE MOVE NECESSARY
Confirmation of Reports War Has Been Declared Are Received

By The Associated Press
PANAMA, Feb 26 — Hostilities between Panama and Costa Rica showed possibilities this afternoon of developing into a conflict involving all of Central America and Colombia. Leading Colombian residents in Panama have sent a wire message to the Futa asking the Colombian Government to furnish them with arms for the purpose of enlisting against Costa Rica.

By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Feb 26 — Faced with the seriousness of the situation, officials of the State Department began tonight consideration of steps to take in case it should be necessary to avert war between Panama and Costa Rica. Official confirmation that President Porras of Panama had gone so far as to issue a declaration of war was received late tonight.

Just what measures will be adopted had not been determined tonight and will not be, it was said, until all facts are communicated officially to the department. It is submitted however that despite the awkward predicament presented in laying out of any course upon the eve of a change of administrations some decisive action might be necessary if the two countries should engage in hostilities.

The obvious remedy offered of landing American troops to avert a clash was dismissed by those who believed both governments could be induced to listen to friendly counsel and if not, to stern warning that they made the department was prepared to issue if it should be necessary. It was regarded as probable that identical messages would be sent to both capitals.

Information received by the department continued tonight to be essentially the wire as that contained in press dispatches. The request of the Panaman government for aid in recovering the funds surrendered many years ago to the United States authorities can not be complied with, it was said, as they were long ago disposed of and the money returned to Panama. The United States it was said also was not eager to assist in arming the Panamans since to do so would enable them to bring about the situation the department is anxious to avert.

Absence of information from the Costa Rican capital caused government officials here to believe it possible that importance of the raid by Costa Ricans into the disputed Coto district had been exaggerated and that it might not affect all that have had governmental international. The situation presented was regarded by officials here as far from acute. Coto is a part of the strip of territory whose sovereignty was determined by Chief Justice White, acting as an arbiter, many years ago after one adjudication already had been made by the president of France. Chief Justice White awarded the territory to Costa Rica but it has never actually passed under Costa Rican control.

Regardless of the territorial rights involved the chief concern here is the continued peace of all territory adjacent to the Panama canal