Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-04

The treaty Of alliance which has
been negotiated by the United States
with the Government Of Panama, and
which has been criticized in Europe
as a departure from this country's
traditional policy, is approved by the
American press generally.
1.-THE Panama treaty is anything but
conspicuous for mutual helpfulneSS
and arbitration. It does not mark the
moral leadership of the United states
in international dealings" in the opln-
ion of the Louisville Courier-J ournal,
but conceding that "the Isthmian
Canal is a reality and as such it must
be preserved" The Courier-Journal
holds that can be accomplished only
by a form of protectOrate which In
war time places the Central American
country under the dominance OF the
United States. When the United
States is at war the nation contiguous
to the canal is automatically in a state
of war. 1t cannot remain neutral any
more than it can join forces with the
enemy. The mobility of the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets depends upon keep
ing the canal open. With this contin-
gency, Panamas rights cease to be-"
l.
automatically becomes the ally of the
United States in any war in which
this country may become engaged,
explains the Chicago Tribune. THAT
provision is supposed not to square
with the theory of Panama's complete
independence, and indeed 1t does not.
No man in his senses supposes that
Panama can have complete freedom
Of action in foreign affairs. The loss
of the Panama Canal would cripple the
|. military and industrial effort OF our
country in time of war to such an eX-
tent that the defense Of the canal is
Of greater importance than the defense
or New York. To subject the canal to
the vagaries of Central American poll
tics in time of. emergency is unthink-
able. Without the canal the Republic
of Panama would probably never have
come into being, and 1t would have
amounted to nothing. If the canal Is
destroyed, Panama will revert to the
Jungle"
* X X
1.-THE criticism of this treaty that 1t
Is dictated by a spirit of militarism
and coercion of little Panama" &C
cording to the Pittsburgh Chronicle
Telegraph, lis without foundation
The important role that would be
played by the canal in case our coun-
try should have to go to war Is obvi-
Gus. Panama has a length of 4SO
miles. It is bisected by the canal.
which we own with a zone of only B
miles on each side. The canal Is one
of the major factors in our scheme OF
national defense. Panama, which will
always have a powerful protector In
the United States, loses nothing by
this treaty, which will help to safe
guard the commerce of the Nation
which was responsible for the great
enterprise"
These treaty provisions" the New
York Sun believes, represent de-
cided advance over those in the earlier
agreements. Panama asserted its in
dependence of Colombia, of which it
had been a department, on November
3, 1903, was recognized by the United
States November 10, and later by the
other powers. The treaty now under
consideration takes the place of the
original agreement, which was abro-
gated in 1924, and it has the same pur-
pose-the safeguarding of the world s
commerce through the protection of
the canal In case its usefulness should
become imperiled by war" The Seat
| tie Daily Times points out that "the
convention is supported by the execu-
tive branches of both countries" and
that "the principles enunciated in the
pact have been dictated by experiences
! of more than 20 years duration"
What Panama is to receive in COM
| penSation for her generous concessions
is not plain from the treaty" says the
Richmond NewS-Leader THE proyis