Evening star., 1949-03-20

Bitter polltlcaf rlValry anu II
carefully sparked by the friends
of Moscow and matched by in
eptness on the part of some OF
our former diplomats and officials
on the Isthmus, have produced q
stalemate in plahs for the proper
defense of the vital waterway.
misunderstanding on the part OF
many people both in Panama and
the Canal Zone as to their respec-
tive economic rights. and also the
obligations of each toward the
other, is a constant source Of irri-
tation. Entrance into the picture
of new interests and influences,
such as competition between va
riouS labor organizations for
jurisdiction over Canal Zone labor
policies, tend to aggravate the
situation.
Relations Delicate
With no other country in the
world are our relations so inti-
mate and delicate. The Panama
Canal Zone. a strip of land aver
aging 10 miles wide. 5 miles on
either side of the Canal, sewers
the little republic from sea to sea.
The United States owns and.
through Canal Zone officials, oper-
ates the Trans-Isthmian Panama
Railroad, which in many places
traverses territory of the Republic
of Panama. The Panama Rail-
road. in turn. operates commits
saries, better described as depart
ment stores, laundries, bakeries,
and many other commercial es-
tablishments within the zone. 1t
even controls real estate in Colon
and Panama City and operates
the Panama Steamship Co., with
two crack luxury liners keeping
regular schedule between the
Isthmus and New York. A new
super-highway constructed by the
United States in wartime also
crosses the Isthmus. most of it
through Panamanian territory
Although the highway ostensibly
blongs to the republic, it is freely
utilized by all Canal Zone traffic
In fact, the unguarded imagi-
nary line which separates the two
territories extends in such zigzag
fashion through the populous
urban centers that it is difficult
for many local residents. much
less visitors, to tell where the ter
ritory Of the Canal and the ter
ritory Of the republic melt OF
dovetail into each other. Nor is
the Canal Zone United States ter
ritory. We govern it but do not
own the land. We lease it. in
perpetuity. for an annual rental
of $438, 1000.
No official of the Canal Zone is
elected to Office. Nobody in the
Zone votes locally. The Governor
although formerly appointed by
the President. is an army officer,
a general Of Engineers. who takes
orders from the War Department
Interestingly enough. he is special
ly trained for the governorship. He
must spend four years as the chief
engineer of the Canal before he is
appointed to the higher Office
Perhaps this accounts for the
clocklike efficiency of the Canal
operations, a fact of which every
citizen of the United States car
be proud.
Evicted From Airfeld
In view of the present expan-
sionist tendencies and suspicious
political activities of Soviet Russia
coupled with widespread Commu.
mist influences in Latin America
and in the Caribbean in particular
facilities for the adequate protec.
ton and defense of the Canal are
a matter of foremost considera'
ton.
A little over a year ago. in re.
sponse to a tumultuous outburSt
of nationalism and Communist.
inspired propaganda against the
United States, the Panamaniar
Legislative Assembly refused II
ratify a treaty which had beer
signed by the two government:
permitting us to continue the USE
of the costly wartime Rio Hate
Airfield, IS miles from Panama
City, and other small military
installations in the republic. This
has left the waterway in a hazard.
GUS position from a military
standpoint.
All major United States mill
tary aviation on the Isthmus il
now confined to Albrook Field. 10.
Gated on the Pacific side, and al.
most on the very banks Of the
Canal. Until Panama recently
constructed a large new CONNER.
cial field some distance from
Panama City. Albrook also served
all commercial lines. and it is still
utilized by United States com.
mercial companies. pending the
conclusion of a United States
Panamanian commercial or CT
william aviation treaty. Besides
being the only adequate militar!
field within the Canal Zone terri
tory, Albrook is not only over
crowded, but it is also too small
for the big new bombers. Wors'
still, there is no more land within
the limits of the Zone suitable fol
the construction Of a larger field
Joint Responsibility
Under the original treaty o
1908 by which we acquired tn
rights to construct and operat'
the Canal, the United State
could appropriate any piece o
land outside of the original Cana
Zone and within Panamanian ter
ritory which it might deem neces
sary for defense purposes. Suct
an ARRANGEMENT was q humiliatint
No.