The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-09-18
PORRAS TO BLAME
The End Is Not Yet In Sight
Hut Trouble May Have To
BE Settled Finally BY
Uncle Sam.--Canal
Described.

AitSlNolhiS NtVSi " Ills pdISIlIS mere,
from which we have been granted
permission to take the following ex-
tracts. Everett's description of the
miniature war in Panama reads like
romance. His description of the
Panama Canal will be enlightening to
many of our readers. With reference
to the war, Mr.. Jacob says:
This place is in more or less of a
critical state of turmoil 1t is rare
that we do not have something Of
Importance to talk about. At this
time, it is the increasing feeling tow
ard the Americans on the part of
the Panamanians. The government
at Washington has insisted upon
Panama's conforming to the terms of
the treaty that she is doing her best
to repudiate, and to give small par
eel of land to Costa Rico. The stu
alton is very involving one. The
story is about as follows:
Several years ago, the present
president of Panama, Porras, was
minister to Costa Rico. For some
time, he had been wanting a divorce
from his wife. Just why, / have new
er found out. Being a Catholic, it
was not an easy matter for him to
secure it, and it is said that he Sc
cured the assistance of a bishop of
Costa Rico in getting this divorce
believe the bishop made trip to
Rome, and very soon after his re-
turn, President Porras received a
special indulgence, which permitted
him to put aside his. wife
1t is said that in order to have this
done for him, he made some sort of
a trade or deal with the Costa Rican
government. He signed treaty with
Costa Rico, whereby, among other
things, certain strip of lands be-
tween the two countries was to 20
to Costa Rico@ 81 h
President Porros wefte on his way,
and was sent to Washington to rep
resent this farce of a country While
in Washington, he was married again,
this time by cable, as his bride was
still in Costa Rico, her home. The
matter of the treaty was apparently
forgotten, when, few months ago,
Costa Rico, without warning, walked
in and seized this particular strip Of
land. The Panamanians rose up and
descended on them in force, and drove
them out, and then asked the gov
eminent at Washington to demiate.
The matter seemed to be very sim
pie. because Immediately there came
back the reply that Panama would be
expected to live up to her interna- z
tional obligations. They sent dele
cation to Washington, but it did not I
seem to be of any use. Costa Rico q
has again taken possession of the I
disputed territory, and all that we are
getting is denunciation and charges Of :
oppression of a weak and helpless +
nation. d
Considerable animosity has been 5
and great demonstration a
was planned to greet the returned s
delegation that had been to Wash il
ngton. The Governor of the Canal, il
however, suggested to the president
II Panama that it would be most I'M c
wise for such thing to be done and b
wen suggested that it might be Fl
necessary for the Americans to march e
n and take possession Of the cities of z
'anama and Colon Things are =
ather quiet as a consequence, but
he bitter feeling has been aroused
gainst the Americans, and there is
10 telling how far it will 90. 1t
Gems as though they are going to
ate Us for all time to come.
The interesting thing about it all
5, that according to the commonly
ED opinion, President Perras arous-
d all this feeling against the Ameri-
ans because he wanted to divert at
ention away from the fact that he
'as himself responsible for the loss
( the territory.
The Canal
Last week I spent Saturday night
nd Sunday morning at Gatun. The
rip across the Isthmus is always
cry nice in the late afternoon, and
was especially so on this occasion.
left Panama at o'clock. and BY
he time the train reached the point
here II Travelled along the edre ~