Evening star., 1926-12-28
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

The United States has made a
treaty with Panama, by which the
two countries agree to stand by each
other against any enemy threatening
or committing acts OF war upon
either of the "high contracting par
ties" Immediately, in some quarters.
there is expressed the fear that this
treaty will be taken as an excuse
for Germany and Austria unitins
The American-Panam treaty Is In
conflict with the terms of the Panama
membership in the League or Nations;
therefore. what is going to happen
Win the League denounce the treaty
and substitute It's own protectloI1 OF
Panama for that of-the Monroe Doc
trine? Which form of protection OF
things American is of greatest an,
tiouity? Which Is most potent
Which is founded upon conditions
nrecedent as to Panama and the
American interoceanic canal across
that little republic?
Tn the Senate, the idea that our
treaty lust completed with Panama
has any bearing upon European com
nlications is laughed at py senators
of both parties, for the Monroe DOC
trine and American rights in protecl
ing the Panama Canal are not party
questions.
It Is generally believed that While
the new treaty puts in WrltIen 4oLiA
the right and obligation or the
TTnited States to defend Panama ana
generally to maintain peace upon the
Isthmus. the said right and opilgatloil
already existed by the very nature OF
things. for Panama is SO restrlcteu II,
territory. so proximate TO tne CaIiSi
q Zone. that q bonfire in Panama Woulu
menace a conflagration In the vital
passageway between the Orient ana
Grcident owned absolutely by the
United States, but held IN trust Lor
the peace of the world
When the original treaty was mace
with the new Republic of Panama, IN
1909 under which the United states
naid Panama S10,0O0,000 cash, and
agreed to pay her, after 1907. annually
$3.50 600. In perpetuity, we received,
in nerpetuity, the Canal Zone, 10
miles wide, across the Isthmus, with
the right to such additional territory
as might be needed, and to complete
the canal, for which we paid the
French company $40,0oO.OOO. WITH
out our investments Panama coulo
never have maintained her IN
established as a free republic. Since
then we have paid Colombia an addl-
tional s25,000,000 to soothe her re.
sentiment for our alleged support OF
her seeding province Of Panama.
X X
It is sometimes forgotten that Pana-
ma had been independent OF Colombia
Tor New Granada) in years past, and
had been coerced by political party,
the Liberals, into accepting absorp-
ton in that more powerful country.
The connection with New Granada
was never an act "of the people. by
the people" of Panama, and her re-
volt came because she believed that
the connection with that distant
South American capital, Bogota, was
against her interests, for the ag-
grandizement Of revolutionary ban
dts" of Colombia, who were capitaliz-
ing the canal project as means OF
extorting an unreasonable sum from
the United States as the price OF the
concession to build and MAINTAIN the
canal.
By the Spooner law. Congress had
authorized President Roosevelt to
negotiate a treaty with Colombia for
building the canal. provided he could
do so on reasonable terms, and, as an
alternative, the Executive was au-
thorized and instructed to make
treaty with Nicaragua for canal
across that country.
The people of Panama were fearful
that IL the Colombia Congress per-
sisted in its palpable attempt to stand
out for more money, and adjourned
without ratifying the Bunau-Varilla
treaty, then pending, we would turn
to the Nicaragua route and leave
Panama forever marooned in It's isoia-
ton. Therefore, within three days
after the Colombia Assembly had ad-
journed Panama declared independ-
ence-November 8, 1903. On Noyem-
ber 6, the United States recognized
the Republic of Panama; on Novem-
ber 10, France did the same; shortly
thereafter, recognition was given by
Germany. England and Russia.
1t transpired that while Colombia
was holding off on ratification of the
American treaty, she was feeling out
the possibility of making a similar
treaty first with Germany and then
with England, but was rebuffed by
both countries, because of our Monroe
Doctrine and their desire to main
tain friendly relations with the United
States. 1t was through that same
desire that Great Britain had pre-
viously consented to our superseding
the Clayton-B -Bulwer treaty (which had
bound the United States to take no
action in Panama without Great
Britain's co-operation) by the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, which left US
free. not only 70 build the canal, but