Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-21
BY CASTOR NERvAL.
Authority on Latin American Affairs.

TOT long ago the Congress OF the
United States passed a reSolu-
VI ton appropriating the sum of
i $l50000 for the purpose OF
studying the present traffic ca
pacity OF the Panama Canal, and OF the
possibilities in the construction of new
canal for the United States through
Nicaraguan territory. This decision OF
Congress is of great Importance, since
the study to be undertaken will aid in
tho solution of problem which during
the paBk few years has been occupying
tho sttention of officials of this country,
and in the solution Of which the Latin
republics Of Central America are deeply
interested.
Not only is this problem of inter-
oceanic canals of economic Importance
to the United States, but 1t also is init
mately connected with certain political
aspects of transcendent importance iii
its relations with the republics of Latin
America. Just as the construction OF
the Panama Canal marked the begin
ming Of new era in the relations OF
the United States with those repub-
lies, the building of q new canal
through Nicaraguan territory would
without doubt, greatly influence those
relations in the future.
The Canal Policy.
The whole policy of the United States
In the Caribbean region turns upon the
Panama Canal The canal was con-
structed not only for commercial rea-
sons, but also for purposes of security
and of military strategy Of prime i'm
portance to this county. From the mo-
ment of its opening. therefore, 1t be-
came necessary for the United States to
determine the best means OF protecting
this formidable work, so closely affecting
it's own national security, since, in case
of necessity, it would permit the mass
ing of the two squadrons OF its grand
fleet, assuring the success Of its defense
operations in case Of attack by for
eign power. This instinct of Self-de-
tense and self-protection indicated to
the United States the ACCESSIBILITY OF
acquiring a certain degree of influence,
or of peaceful domination, over the
region in which the canal is situated.
On this account the Nation found itself
obliged to develop, at once, certain
policy of authority, of discreet DONNA
$ion. in the Caribbean zone, in order
60 definitely establish its predominant
control over the canal. Even the do
nestle conditions of the Central Amer
tCan republics began to occupy the at
Nention of the United States, since con-
slant revolutions in those countries
threatened to invite meddling by some
European power, and attract its atten-
ton to the Canal Zone. In order to
avoid this danger, the United States
found itself obliged to adopt the role of
"vigilante," in order to guarantee the
political tranquility of those nations,
whose peace was of as much interest
to this country as to themselves. In
word the construction of the Panama
Canal obliged the United States to in
tervene directly In Central American
affairs
Antagonism to Intervention.
Now then. this intervention, as is
well known, has been given an evil in
terpretation by many in Latin America.
The interest of the United States in
the maintaining of order and in aiding
the progress of the Caribbean countries
has been taken as a sign of imperialism,
as a desire to establish hegemony over
the republics of Latin origin. The
United States has been accused of seek
ing the economic subsection of these
peoples. of undertaking financial con-
quest of them. of exercising political
dominion over them. And of using the
Panama Canal as pretext for further
ing its interests and its pretenSions.
And 1t is well known how much this
accusation, no matter how unjustifled
It may be, has injured, and Is still con-
tinuing to injure, the cause Of better
understanding and closer friendship
between the Latin American nations
and the United States.
Under these circumstances, 1t is easy
10 understand the consequences which
would result from the construction by
the United States of another canal
through Central American territory.
Even the mere announcement that the
Congress in Washington has voted an
appropriation for the study Of its con-
struction has already caused alarm in
certain Latin circles, where there is
much disquiet as to Uncle Sans
policies in the Caribbean. The Central
and South American press has begun
to discuss the dangers" which a new
United States canal would bring, not
only to Nicaragua but to the Spanish
American countries in general, who see
danger Of further American influence
ahead.
Whether or not these fears are
justified, the fact remains that the idea
of a new canal is not regarded with
favor in Latin America, and every
circumstance points to the conclusion
that, once it is constructed, it will con-
stitute one more ground for misgiving
and misunderstanding in pan-American
relations.
Necessity of New Canal.
Although the discussions are sharp
as to the political consequences which
may follow the construction of the
proposed Nicaraguan Canal they are
much more so as to the question of
its economic advantages, and the ma
terial question of the ACCESSIBILITY of its
construction. Is the Nicaraguan Canal
really necessary? Is the Panama Canal
already inadequate for traffic, or will
it become useless in time? These are
the questions to be answered through
the investigation undertaken, by direc-
ton of Congress, by the Engineer Corps
and technicians of the War Depart
ment.
In the first place, it is interesting to
observe the differences between the
arguments offered by the two sides. The
advocates Of the construction of the
new canal through Nicaragua insist
that the Panama Canal has not suffi-
cient capacity to take care of the needs
of traffic as it will be few years
hence. One of the most enthusiastic
partisans of this side, Senator Kenneth
Mcclellan of Tennessee, declared a
short time ago y statement
to the press: Fourteen years ago the
United States Government completed
the Panama Canal Already there are
signs that the canal is performing very
nearly all of the work of which it is
capable. If traffic through that canal
should increase during the next 10
years as it has during the past IA
business will be clogged and ships must
be turned away within only few years
It is absolutely necessary that there
should be another canal dug, and
believe that it should be dug across
Nicaragua" Senator Mcclellan, a year
ago, introduced a bill authorizing the
construction of the Nicaraguan Canal
and providing the funds for financing
the work. This bill is still in the hands
of the committee to which it was re-