Page:Dramatic Moments in American Diplomacy (1918).djvu/269
IN AMERICAN DIPLOMACY 249
- 'Yes," said Mr. Hay, "that is unfortunately
the most probable hypothesis. But we shall not be caught napping. Orders have been given to naval forces on the Pacific to sail to- ward Panama."
Prompt, decisive, daring action followed. Within a day this extraordinary man consti- tuted himself the Jefferson, the Washington, and the Benjamin Franklin of the new Re- public of Panama. He wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, a method- ical plan of the military operations to be con- ducted, complete details of the three days' de- fence of the Isthmus which he considered necessary, and a cipher code for dispatches, and most important of all, he prepared in ad- vance the exact cables to be sent appointing a minister plenipotentiary to the United States capable of the direct, reliable, and prompt ac- tion necessary to satisfy this exasperated coun- tiy. None other in fact than Philippe Bunau- Varilla. It was magnificent.
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