Evening star., 1921-08-14
BY BEN MCKELwAY.

YHATS the next move in the
M Costa Rica-Panama boun-
" dairy dispute: who is go
ing to make 1t and what
will be the result?
For months now since Costa Rica
started things moving by sending her
army into the contested bit OF terri
tory on the Pacific coast, and re-
vived the contest over the White
award. it's been sort of an interna
tional game of checkers. with the
United States sitting as umpire. Costa
Rica making one move and Panama
countering with another. Today finds
tie battle-ground moved to Washing
ton. flags of both sides flying high
and no Immediate prospect Of either
contestant giving in.
The present situation Is peculiar
and its result is going to be inter
esting.
First, take Costa Rica's side Of the
controversy. AS far as that repub-
stands; it has received the backing
of the State Department. and IL Pan
/, anna refuses to comply she must set
tie with the United States. Her latest
move is to follow up the provisions Of
the White award by requesting Chief
Justice Taft to appoint the commits
sion Of engineers who. as provided
for in the treaty between Panama
and Costa Rica. naming as arbiter
former Chief Justice White, are to
survey and mark the line designated
in the White award. Costa Rica
steadily ignores suggestions for other
solutions advanced by Panama be
cause, as has been said. there remains
according to her point of view, NJ
dispute to be settled.
Panama, on the other hand refuses
to look upon the United States as a
power which threatens to enforce her
compliance with the White award.
To Panama the United States Is
arbiter, impartial and interested only
in the equitable solution of a matter
Costa Rica, both sovereign powers.
each entitled to its own way of think
ing and acting. Through the State
Department Panama continues to ap-
proach Costa Rica with suggestions.
and through the State Department
Panama's latest suggestion. which
has received no action at the State
Department. is that Panama and
Costa Rica be allowed to settle their
difficulties as provided in article 13
of the treaty of Versailles which pro-
between signatory powers through
arbitration. An expression from the
State Department on this suggestion
is expected some time this week
AS far as the State Department is
concerned. 1t is difficult to define its
attitude. So far it seems that the
United States considers the White
awarL final But what action will
be taken If Panama steadily refuses to
abide by that decision remains to be
seen. Panama does not believe this
country will intervene and settle the
dispute by force. And it is difficult
to understand how such action would
be taken.
AS the matter stands now, Panama
is the loser. The territory under dis
pute on the Pacific coast always be-
longed to Panama. but was awarded
to Costa Rica under the Lubin de-
cision. while another bit of territory
on the Atlantic coast. which belonged
to Costa Rica under the Loubet de-
under the same award. The White
award gave Costa Rica the territory
on the Atlantic coast, but did not
change the ownership of the territory
on the Pacific coast. given to Costa
Rica under the Loubet decision. Pan
anna refused to abide by the Loubet
award when the White award was
made. while Costa Rica accepted the
White award and also claimed the
Pacific coast territory given her un-
der the Loubet decision. So Panama
stands to lose the Pacific coast and
under the Loubet decision and the At
lantic coast territory under the White
award, and she's dying hard.
X +
DR.. David Fairchild and p. H. Dor
Sett of the bureau of plant industry