The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-10-22
PANAMA PLANS.
TO
COST MILLION
War on Isthmus Might En-
danger Canal, Bring
u. S. Intervention
Rv JOHN M.7vEBBER
:, D Latin American Editor

NEW YORK, Oct. %. (Oi1 ,,;-
War talk and peace moves qoi.
mated news interest IN La'"'
America this week. O., ooo
panama appropriated Sii,Uoo,-
600 for national defense follow
inc Costa Rica's decision not u
rnfifv a treaty signed by the two
countries to end their centuries,
old frontier dispute, and prepared
70 reinforce it's western border.
Plans were made for the purchase
of rifles and machine-guns, as
well as several pieces of light ana
heavy artillery. !,
The Panamanian press talked
of possible hostilities and tele-
grams poured in on President
Juan Demonthenes Arosemena
urging firm stand and pledging
support of the senders. But Oh.
servers were confident the war
would not get beyond the talking
stage. Despite efforts of Panama
city newspapers to whip up a pa
triotic fervor by charging Costa
RIGA with aggressive designs" it
was generally recognized the Uni
ted States would permit no fight
ing near the Panama canal. A
war on the isthmus, even on a
small scale, might endanger the
"big ditch" and force American
intervention. The fact that the
canal divides the republic into
two parts, and the presence OF
American armed forces in the
Canal Zone, has had compare
lively quieting effert on Panama.
The "politicos" know Washington
will brook no armed hostilitles
for any length of time.
Costa RIGA appeared unperturb-
ed by the belligerent tone OF the
editorials in the Panamanian
press. The border quarrel was
believed no more serious than
ever and the government of
President Leon Cortes admitted
that violent though "uninformed"
opposition forced withdrawal of
the treaty from the senate which
Was debating it's ratification.
Ecuador's move to obtain
friendly" mediation by President
Roosevelt and the chief executives
of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and
Uruguay in its territorial contro-
versy with Peru, was unsuccess-
full. In reply to Provisional
President Manuel Maria Bor-
rero's request the five presidents
urged Pacific settlement Of the
quarrel, but pointed out that I'M
less Peru also requested media
ton, they could not offer it. Di-
rect negotiations between the two
disputants, which were conducted
in Washington since the autumn
of 1886, were suspended recently
by Peru on the grounds that they
prevented settlement rather than
aided it.
Mexico's conflict with the Uni
ted States over appropriation of
American owned lands under
President Lazaro Cardenas' Ag-
rarian program entreed a more
optimistic phase with the return
to Washington of Mexican Ambas-
sador Francisco Castillo Najera.
The ambassador conferred at
length with President Cardenas
and was quoted as saying he ex-
pected a satisfactory settlement"
before mid-November. Mexico
City papers, however, were quick
to point out that too much en-
phasis should not be placed in the
ambassadors excessive optim-
ism" and indicated that solution
of the problem might be delayed
for some time.
President Cardenas' long battle
for women's suffrage was success
full when the 18th state, major
ity of the republics %, ratified
an amendment to the constitution
giving approximately 100000
Mexican. women the right to vote.
Only official proclamation of the
amendments ratification by the
required number OF states remain
ed to make the women eligible to
participate in the 1910 presiden-
tial election.
In Chile the presidential cam
paign drew to close, with activi-
ties closely restricted by the state
of siege proclaimed September 5
after the. Abortive National So
cialist (Nacista) uprising. Prep
arations were made for next Tues
days election when a successor to
President Arthuro Allessandri will
be chosen for a six-year term. The
two candidates, Gustavo Ross and
Pedro. Aguirre Cerda, represent
the right and the left, respective
ly. Both are confident of victory,
with Ross being a slight favorite
in the betting.