No Panama Encroachment.

New York Times 100 years ago today, September 13, 1912:
United States Under Treaty Can Supervise Use of Its Waters.
    WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.— The State Department to-day denied any intention of asserting sovereignty over the Republic of Panama, which some of the officials of that State are reported to apprehend.
    Though the department is not directly concerned in the request of Maurice H. Thatcher, head of the Department of Civil Administration of the Canal Zone, that the Panaman Government keep in mind the rights of the United States in Panaman waters. In making concessions to individuals or corporations, it is pointed out that this is nothing more than an exercise of treaty powers.
    Article 3 of the Convention of 1903 for the construction of the Panama Canal expressly grants to the United States authority, not only over the waters in the Canal Zone, but over "all auxiliary lands and waters" outside the zone "which may be necessary and convenient for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation, and protection of the said Canal or of any auxiliary canals or other works necessary and convenient" for the Canal.
    The Canal engineers must therefore be consulted before the Panaman Government grants any franchise for the use of waters, as they must guard against the pollution of the streams entering into the Canal or flowing through the Zone, or which supply the inhabitants with drinking water. This guardianship may be exercised without infringing the sovereignty of Panama.