Evening star., 1926-06-05
PROBE Of PANAMA
GRANTS ORDERED
Senate Adopts Borah Reso'
luton Asking Facts About
British Concession.

The Borah resolution, calling upon
the Departments of State and War for
information concerning concessions in
Panama granted to British interests.
was adopted by the Senate today with
| out debate Reports are to the effect
! that these concessions cover vast
| area of land and lie on each side of
| the Panama Canal.
| Reports of the vast concessions are
, being carefully investigated by the
| State Department and the War De
! partment, it was indicated at the
White House yesterday. Indeed the
| Government already has looked into
these concessions, and President Cool
| idge understands they are surface
! and subsoil concessions to British
! corporation and without Objectionable
| features.
| The President. it was said at the
| White House yesterday, assumed,
| however. that the Government de.
| partments involved would continue
i their injuries to make sure that the
contracts were satisfactory, so FAR
as the interests of this country are
concerned.
Plan to Raise Rubber.
Senator Borah introduced his reso-
formation furnished to him by Rich
ard o. Marsh of Brockport, n. Y,
who at one time was in charge
of the American legation at Panama
City. His understanding is that the
concessions were obtained for the
purposes Of producing rubber, and he
has presented his data to number
of Senators, as we'll as to the War
and Commerce departments.
While State Department officials
declined to comment, it was learned
that a concession was made to Brit
ish interests by Panama more than
a year ago. and that the text of the
concession is in the hands of that
denartment. 1t covers prospecting
richts for gold and subsoil minerals
in two large areas.
Officers of the State Department
have not thought it necessary TO take
IN the subject with the Panama gov
ernment in diplomatic correspondence
since on it's face the concession APP
pears to be a typical grant for the
exploitation only OF minerai deposits.
Borah Wants Correspondence.
Serator Borah's resolution deals
WITH CONCESSIONS which may have been
obtained by the British government
and calls for the copies or all cores
nondence and all communications had
with the British government relative
to such concessions
The Senator explained that he speci-
fed the British government in the
resolution because that was the only
wav he could reach the subject by
such a move. He added that he had
little doubt that if British interests had
! obtained concessions in Panama it
was with the knowledge and approval
of their government.
The resolution of inquiry Is as fol
| lows: c
| state and the Secretary of War are
berebv requested, If not incompatible
with the public interests, to advise
| the Senate of all facts and circum.
| stances of which they have official
! cognizance relative to concessions Sc.
cured bv the British government in
| the Republic of Panama; and the ex-
tent to which the British government
has secured control over the public
| lands and natural resources of
| Panama.
"Secondly, copies of all correspond
| ence and all communications had
with the British government relative
(! to such concessions and to acquiring
! the control of the natural resources
/ of Panama