Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-28
Panama's Business,

When the Un1tS0 St3tcS aS'NS~ W
Kup,rvise the coming election in MICA
racua. some Of those who disagreed
With this policy made the point that
the state Department had committed
itself Ia a procedure which might pc
come embarrassing. For. it was argued
n the Marines are TO preserve the
xanctitv of the ballot in Nicaragua
hoy, can this country refuse to seno
them elsewhere upon the request o.
those who foresee and fear a stormy
election ahead? II We are TO guarantee
nure politics In Nicaragua, how can
ne escape like guarantee for pure
noli,ics in Guatemala. or Costa Rlca'
or Panama
Now Secretary kellogg has refused
.ho reauest of the Conservative party
of Panama to supervise the Panaman
election which occurs August .. In
doing 50 he has defined clearly the
State Departments conception oil us
resnonsihility where the internal affairs
Of an independent republic are con-
eerned. He recalls that Panama's cleo
finn law places extraordinary power and
control in the hands of the Panaman
government. represented by the present
administration, and that there IS no'h-
ing 10 indicate that these grave o6iga-
tions will not be fulfilled, In otnet
words panan,a's election is Panama's
business. not our own. But should
Panama find itself unable to live up 10
Its responsibilities: should revolutionary
activities threaten the stability of that
renublic and thereby this Nations IN
terests in the Canal Zone. the United
states may be compelled to act under
tbs power conferred through its treaty
with Panama. and preserve order
The United states had one enlighten-
ing experience in the supervision OF
panaman elections In the municipal
elections of 1912 and upon the request
of the government of Panama this
country instructed an American lnfan-
try regiment stationed on the ISthmus
n see that the registration and voting
IN the forthcoming elections should DC
fair. The opposition party won. but
instead OF thanking the United states
for its intercession. the administration
which had requested ii protested that
the election had been carried on IN
~sraudulent and scandalous manner
and charged that American supervision
Was partial The climax was reached
when the Union Patriotica. the de-
feated party. decided that its members
should not participate in the national
elections which followed. This createo
bitterness and i'll feeling toward the
American election supervisors as wen
as Americans in general.
The incident Is interesting, but II real
II has no bearing on Mr.. Kellogg re-
fusal again to supervise Panaman cleo
tso.1s Nor is this refusal inc 'nsisaent;
with our policy in Nicaragua. In Panama
there is no disorder, no revolution.
though both may be threatened ny the
PARTY that happens to ne "oHt. Inc
Panaman government IS IN control OF
the situation. and promises so 70 remain.
In Nicaragua series of revolutions and
counter revolutions had laid the coun-
try waste. There was no end IN sight o.
the disastrous and futile civil warfare,
unless il was anarchy and complete dis
appearance Of any government. Both
sides we're tired but neither was willing
10 Quit until Mr.. Sttnson brought about
. truce contingent upon this country's
guarantee Of fair elections. il is IN &C.
cordance with this agreement that the
Marines will be at tas Nicarag9an polls
this Fail
Secretary Kellogg does not touch upon
the question Of whether the ogs5ed Con-
sentative party in Panama will be able
TO participate in fair and square cleo
tion few days hence. The election may
not be fair and square. The administra-
ton may 80 control the election ma
chinery that ii can function In cne way
only But that. again. is Panama's busi-
ness, not ours.
800