Evening star., 1941-03-06
Canal Defense Moves
Speeded Under New
Panama Base Pact
Neighbor Republic Gives
U. S. Right to Set Up
Military Facilities

The United States sped measures
today to defend the Panama Canal
under an agreement with the Re-
public of Panama, granting this
country rights to establish new air
bases, anti-aircraft and warning
stations outside the Canal Zone.
Announced in Panama late yester-
day by President Arias, the agree
ment was hailed here as a further
symbol of cooperation among the
American republics in hemisphere
defense. 1t followed announcement
that the United States and Mexico
are engaged in military talks on
mutual defense measures.
Panama granted permission for
establishment of the new defense
works on her territory, including air
bases, searchlight and detector units.
after brief negotiations under 1886
treaty of friendship and co-opera-
ton.
In formal statement today, Sec
retary of State Hull expressed graft
fication for Panama's cooperation
and said that work would proceed
Immediately on the sites granted for
new defense bases.
Arias Explains Action.
President Arias said his govern
ment had acceded to the require
ments" of the United States in view
of its statement that an "interna-
tional conf1agration' exists which
threatens the security of the water
way vital to American defenses.
The 1886 treaty, ratified in 1889,
provided that in ease of an inter-
national conflagration or the exist
ence of any threat of aggression
which would endanger the security
of the Republic of Panama or the
neutrality or security of the Panama
Canal" the two governments would
take such measures of prevention
and defense as they may consider
necessary for the protection of their
common interests"
The treaty established the Joint
obligation" of Panama and the
United States ito insure the effec-
tive and continuous operation of the
Canal and the preservation of its
neutrality"
How much territory would be
made available to the United States
was not announced, but President
Arias' manifesto said Washington
authorities had requested several
sites" outside the boundaries of the
l0-mile Canal Zone strip.
1t was said authoritatively that
the right of the United States Army
to construct roads to the new bases
is included within the scope of the
agreement.
officials her withheld details of
the proposed works, apparently in
tended chiefly to extend the warn
ing system and enable defense
forces to intercept and engage hos
tile airplanes farther from the
Canal.
Need for Warning Contended.
Military authorities have con-
tended that at least 20 or 80 minutes
advance warning on the approach
of enemy planes was needed to get
sufficient forces into the air to
fight them off before they reached
the Canal.
The Army has received funds for
q highly secret detector apparatus
designed to give warning of the
presence of aircraft 100 or more miles
distant but supplemental signal
stations in strategic areas were
said to be desirable
The safety of the Panama Canal,
a vital link in two-ocean defense
by the United States feet, has been
matter of increasing concern in
view of developments in Europe and
Asia The main feet is now in the
Pacific, with a separate body opera
ting in the Atlantic.