Evening star., 1947-12-24
u. ). Evacuatinq
TroopsFronn "A
Panama Bases
Senator KnowIund
Suggests New Canal
Across Nicaragua

American troops DeSdn WlGn-
drawing at daylight today from
IA bases in the Republic of Pan
ANA following a sudden decision
to abandon controversy with
that country over continued use
of the bases for defense of the
Panama Canal
The State Department announced
the decision for immediate evacu-
alton OF the some 1000 United
States troops from Panamanian ter
ritory late yesterday, following
unanimous rejection by the Panama
National Assembly Monday night of
an agreement leasing the war-built
bases to- this country.
1t. Gen. Willis D. Crittenberger,
commander of United States forces
in the Caribbean area, issued evac-
uation orders after receiving in
structions last night to begin with
drawal of the American forces at
once.
B-29s Based at Rio Hata.
The huge B-29 bomber base at
Rio Hata and a chemical warfare
testing site on San Jose Island, the
largest of the IA bases involved out
side the 10-mile wide canal strip,
were the first to start evacuating
An announcement from Carib-
bean command headquarters said
both planes and men were being
moved from Rio Hata. Men were
moved from San Jose.
The other bases are comparatively
small. Personnel and equipment in
them were being made ready for
withdrawal.
Army spokesmen here estimated
no more than 1000 ground and
Air Force personnel are stationed
at the IA defense sites.
The Army explained it was able to
act swiftly because it made plans
long ago. The withdrawal is "in
accordance with plans prepared for
some time, to be used in event we
didn't have the right to stay there, !"
said an official spokesman for the
Army, Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Parks.
New Canal Suggested.
Demands arose on Capitol Hill,
meanwhile, for survey work on
new canal Senator Knowland, Re-
publican, of California, suggested
a new canal across Nicaragua, and
Representative Engel, Republican,
of Michigan, said there should be
one outside Panama"
The IA defense sites being aban-
doned in Panama, including the big
Rio Hata base and 13 smaller air
strips and radar stations, are clasSed
by officials here as of vital interest
in defense of the Canal They are
the remnants of 1874 defense install
lations which the United States oc-
cupied in Panamanian territory dur
ing the war under 1912 agreement
Decision to evacuate the bases
came unexpectedly. Some officials
had said earlier this country would
continue to use them, despite the
Panamanian Assembly's rejection of
the new leasing agreement, on the
grounds that such use was permit
ted by the 1912 agreement until a
year after the definite" peace
treaty ending World War II was
signed.
This American Interpretation of
the 1912 agreement is not being
abandoned, officials made plain. But
they said that as a practical matter
it was considered not wise to insist
on this country's technical rights.
Animosity to U. S. Reported.
Presumably, it was considered that
evacuation of the bases, as a gesture
in recognition of the sovereign will
OF the Panama people, would be of
more long-range value than the mil
itary benefits to be gained from their
continued use under the circum-
stances.
The Panamanian Assembly's re-
fusal to approve the new leasing
arrangement followed what one
official described as wave of
'hysteria" in Panama against the
COLOSSUS of the North" He said
(See PANAMA, Page A-5)