ated that Senator Hoar was right in his opposition to
acquirement of the Philippines; but at the time it seemed that the
burden was thrust upon us and we could not shirk it.

Senator Hoar was disposed to be against the recognition of the
Republic of Panama, and it has been intimated that he was of the
opinion that the Roosevelt Administration had something to do with
the bloodless revolution that resulted in the uniting with the
United States of that part of Colombia which now forms the Canal
Zone.

President Roosevelt entertained a very high regard for Senator
Hoar, and he wanted to disabuse his mind of that impression. He
asked him to call at his office one morning. I was waiting to see
the President and when he came in he told me that he had an engagement
with Senator Hoar, and asked me if I would wait until he had seen
the Senator first. I promptly answered that he should see the
Senator first at any rate, as he was an older man than I, and was
older in the service. Senator Hoar and the President entered the
room together. Just as they went in, the President turned to me.
"You might as well come in at the same time," said he. I accompanied
them. And this is what took place:

The President wanted the Senator to read a message which he had
already prepared, in reference to Colombia's action in rejecting
the treaty and the canal in general; which message showed very
clearly that the President had never contemplated the secession of
Panama, and was considering different methods in order to obtain
the right of way across the Isthmus from Colombia, fully expecting
to deal only with the Colombian Government on the subject. The
President was sitting on the table, first at one side of Senator
Hoar, and then on the other, talking in his usual vigorous fashion,
trying to get the Senator's attention to the message. Senator Hoar
seemed adverse to reading it, but finally sat down, and without
seeming to pay any particular attention to what he was perusing,
he remained for a minute or two, then arose and said: "I hope I
may never live to see the day when the interests of my country are
placed above its honor." He at once retired from the room without
uttering another word, proceeding to the Capitol.

Later in the morning he came to me with a typewritten paper containing
the conversation between the President and himself, and asked me
to certify to its correctness. I took the paper and read it over,
and as it seem