Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-27
EDGE CITES RISKS
= =
IN DELAYED CANAL
Nicaraguan Project Must Be
Speeded, Says Senator
in Radio Forum.

lao OCCu dut llOLlDCu ny NOLlBLcSS, WOulu
invite the risk of hampering our future
industrial. commercial and agricultural
interests Senator Walter E. Edge of
New Jersey, declared last evening in a
radio address in the National Radio
Forum arranged by The Star and spon-
sored by the Columbia Broadcasting
System.
: Speaking from Station WMAL over
Nationwide network of Columbia
Broadcasting System stations, Senator
Edge. whom President Hoover recently
nominated to be Ambassador TO France,
expressed the opinion, based on a thor
ough survey ~ our trade conditions,
that I'VE shall require two interoceanic
arteries most urgently in the not far
distant future If We are to cope ade-
quately with the increasing imports of
our manufactured products alone"
Imports Increasing.
Increasing imports of American goods
by the South and Central Americas. the
new China and the Far East maze it
necessary, Senator Edge said, that an
other interoceanic waterway be deVel-
oped.
Under a joint resolution passed at the
last session of Congress, sponsored by
Senator Edge, -$150,000 was appropriated
for bringing a survey of 1901 to date
and aScertalning the essential facts re-
garding construction Of a canal across
Nicaragua. Army engineers are to re-
port their findings and recommended
tions to the President and Congress
within two years.
These three considerations, economic,
military and diplomatic, attach pro-
found significance to the Nicaraguan
Canal project" Mr.. Edge asserted.
Shortening of Time.
"Ry shortening the time and distance
between certain Atlantic and Gulf ports
and those of Central America, our own
opening a new sea route to important
South American and Far Eastern har-
bors, the canal would prove a new slim
uluS to trade. BY bringing to Mica
ragua the progress and benefits now ap-
parent at Panama 1t would do much to
solve the difficulties with that republic
which have. in time past, harassed our
State Department.
by establishing two water routes,
instead of one, from ocean to ocean 1t
would prove a great military asset"
Pointing out that the United States
Government already has invested 3d.
600 900 in Nicaraguan canal rights I'M
der the Bryan Chamorro treaty, Sem
ator Edge said there should be no diff
ficulty in obtaining other rights neces-
ssry. Apart from the military benefits
+ of the canal he said. the project looms
/ increasingly important when considered
r in relation to our foreign and terri
torial commerce. particularly If the
E possibilities of congestion at Panama
are concerned"
There is no reason to doubt" he
said that a Nicaraguan Canal Zone
would be transformed into an American
zone like that of Panama, with mil
itary reservation, and be administered
by the War Department.
Text of Speech Given.
The text of Senator Edges address
follows, in full:
After a lapse Of 80 years, the United
I States Government is again moving IN
a material way to ascertain the feasi-
bllity and practicsbility OF constructing
! a canal across Nicaragua uniting the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The last survey was completed IN
1901, following which the Panama Canal
was authorized, Notwithstanding the
commission recommended the construc-
ton of a Nicaraguan canal.
At the last session Of Congress. q
Joint resolution. which I had the prlvl-
lege of sponsoring, was passed and be-
came a law appropriating $4,000 for
the purpose of bringing the old survey
down to date and to ascertain other
essential facts and to report within two
years to the President and Congress.
Engineers on Journey.
Only a few days ago the first con-
tingent of engineers, in command OF
Maj. Dan I. Sutton, United States Army,
sailed for Nicaragua to carry out the
terms of the resolution.
In view of the circumstances, it will
1k%aka ha fx1fa fa &Yinf4Ny
the economic results following the open
ing of the Panama Canal and the rea-
sons leading up to the proposal to pos
sibly construct a second interoceanic
waterway
Engineers have reported that the
waterway at Panama faces the prospect
Of some day becoming overcrowded and
thus confronting cargo carriers with the
alternative of costly delays or again
rounding the Horn. Military strategists
have pictured the serious problem fac
ing the Navy should the present canal
be crippled in time Of war. Statesmen
lave pointed out the contribution toward
international understanding and Gen.
trail American developments which new
trade artery might assure.
Profound Significance.
These three considerations--econ
military and diplomatic-attach a pro-
found significance to the Nicaragua
canal project. BY shortening the time
and distance between certain Atlantic
or Gulf ports and those of Central
America. our own West Coast and
Alaska. as well as by opening a new
sea route to important South American
and Far Eastern harborS. the canal
would prove a new stimulus to trade.
BY bringing to Nicaragua the progress
and benefits now apparent at Panama,
II would do much to solve the difficul-
ties with that republic which have. in
times past, harassed our State De-
partment. BY establishing two water
routes, instead of one, from ocean to
ocean, it would prove q great military
asset. Under present conditions. the
blocking of the Panama Canal by
bombs dropped from aircraft could
effectually separate the Atlantic and
Pacific fleets and place the United
States in wartime in position similar
to that of 1898, when the battleship
oregon made her historic voyage down
the west coast Of South America
through the Strait of Magellan and up
the east coast to the Caribbean.
Outlining Situation.
Before discussing in detail the milf
tary and commercial advantages offered
by the proposed Nicaragua cut, it seems
wise to outline the present situation at
Panama. Oficial reports show that
the commercial business of the canal
has doubled approximately every five
years from the first year of operation,
ed indicate that If the present ratio
j<increase continues the waterway may
reach the point Of maximum capacity
in less than 10 years. This, however,
seems to be only a possibility. A greatly
increased tonnage in the near future
would be necessary before the CONNER
eial business of the canal could con-
tinue to double every five years. In my
own iIIdgment formed after q careful