Evening star., 1947-12-29
Canal Pact Rejection
By, Panama Intended
As Hint on PoIiteness
Minority Famed Flame
OF National Pride
To Snub Uncle Sam
By David Laurence

n lcSSOll III SOOo hAoiAAS'o "AAN
neighborliness is involved In the
dispute between Panama and the
United States-and the blame Is
not all on one side.
For years the people Of Panama
have felt that the United States,
In its treatment of civil employees |
In the Canal Zone, has shown dis
elimination in pay and privileges
between Panamanians and Ameri- !
cans. For years the merchants |
across the boundary from the Canal
Zone which is perpetually under
American sovereignty have felt that |,
the American commissaries, with
their advantages and privileges,
have practiced sort Of economic |
competition unfavorable to them.
When you add to this the feel
ing OF distrust that small nation
has for larger country, it is
easy to see how small band of
crusaders can swing public senti-
ment and produce national resent
ment.
Passage Had Been Expected.
The treaty which the Panama
government had signed only re-
Gently was to have gone through
the National Assembly with Al votes
but under the inspiration of small
minority an emotional wave swept
the country and the treaty was
unanimously defeated, 81 to o.
This result is a serious blow to
the prestige of the United States
throughout all Latin America. It
implies, on the one hand, that the
American Government underesti-
mated sentiment in Panama and
also that anti-Americanism is
fertile field for Communist agitators
to cultivate 1t is an exaggeration
to say the Communists In Panama
defeated the treaty They merely
helped by dramatizing the issue.
The behavior Of the United States
since the treaty was defeated was
a surprise to the Panamanians, to
Latin America and perhaps to Mos
COW as well. Instead of standing on
the letter Of an agreement which
was signed in 1912 between the
United States and Panama giving
America the right to retain GER
tain bases until one year after a
"definitive" treaty, the Department
OF State recommended and the War
Department promptly carried out an
evacuation OF American troops from
the Panama bases.
The United States thus tells Rus
sia-for application to European and
Asiatic problems-that strong
power doesn't keep its troops on the
territory of weak country II the
latter declares 1t to be an infringe
ment OF sovereignty.
But where does the defense OF the
Panama Canal come in? Certainly
without strategic air bases capable
Of handling B-29s, the defense Of
the great seaway is weakened.
Since there is no war in immediate
prospect, and since the United
States has ample opportunity to
consider other means Of defense or
other routes for the canal, there was
every reason for prompt with
drawal.
The people of Panama will sooner
or later wake up to the fact that,
In DENYING the bases on emotional
grounds, the Assembly has delivered
a body blow to the economic future
Of Panama. Instead OF a lO-year
agreement for the bases, 1t seems
unlikely now that Congress will In
vest, as had been proposed, $25OO,-
900 900 for the improvement OF the
Canal unless a better and longer
lease agreement is made.
Other Routes under Study.
Much of the money would have
been spent in Panama In the form
of payroll and the merchants would
have benefited greatly from the
boom. Maybe they never thought Of
this before. Now members OF Con-
gress are talking about other routes
and the whole idea of appropriating
more money will be deferred until
after Panama and the United States
have negotiated and ratified a new
agreement.
Meanwhile, a presidential election
In Panama will soon be held and
the political crosscurrents that cap
ltalized on nti-Americanism will
have a chance to subside. Likewise
the American Government will do
well in the interim to study care
fully the causes Of the sudden turn
In the Assembly and to determine
what, II anything, can be done to
end the determinations In the Pan
ANA area which have grown as Gus
toms for many years but which now
can bear re-examination, If not
modification, in the interest Of
better relations.
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