Evening star., 1949-03-13


st impossible for forward-looking
country, with the promise that he
keep quiet. So far Arias himself
has said nothing, but the Nation
alists and anti-United States ele-
ments are again active. The Com
munists are grinding out new
propaganda and the government
and the police keep vigilant watch
for untoWard events.
Economic conditions in Panama
City and Colon, especially among
the merchants, shopkeepers, pro-
prietors of honky tonk bars and
restaurants, who prosper only
when there are large military
forces in the Canal Zone, are
serious.
Future Not Promising
AS ships are increasing in size
the present Canal facilities, or at
least the locks, are rapidly be-
coming obsolete. Some of the
largest warships cannot use it
advantageously. Without building
new locks or eliminating the
present ones and making the
Canal a sea-level affair, it is grow
ing more and more vulnerable
to attack. Panama's increasing
nationalistic attitude and the con-
slant agitation of the Communists
and extremists. has dampened the
ardor of Washington officials,
especially members of Congress. to
spend great sums of money at the
present location.
Plans are already under way
looking to the possibility of OPEN
ing up new Isthmian waterway
in Colombia south of the Isthlnus
of Panama. by connecting up two
large rivers that flow down, re-
spectively, to the Pacific and the
United States and Colom-
bian engineers are at this very
making a Joint survey Of
the proposed new route.
Produces Little Food
At any rate Panama's economic
future, insofar as. the United
States and the Canal Zone are con-
cerned. is not promising. The Diaz
government and many leading
Panamanians are now anxious to
reopen negotiations for a treaty
covering the now unoccupied air
bases. But it is no longer as i'm
portant as it was before to have
them and there is every reason to
believe that any resumption Of
negotiations would be accompanied
by storm of protests on the part
of the extreme Nationalists> and
small bore politicians. Certainly
the Communists would be more
active than ever.
Panamanians themselves could
build up large markets In the
Canal Zone as we'll as in their
own cities by expanding or de-
veloping the cattle and livestock
industry and by growing more
vegetables, fruits and other food
products. Our Canal Zone COM
missaries would be glad to buy
such products in large quantities
to supply the 10000 residents OF
the Zone. and the several thou
sand members of the armed
forces normally or now stationed
on the Isthmus. But Panama
produces little or no meat In
quantities and certainly not of the
quality required by the market.
1t grows few fresh vegetables and
very little fruit.
Some of the most public
spirited Panamanians I know are
attempting to expand the agri-
cultural and stock raising indus
tries. One of them who In IS
years has built up large farm
and cattle ranch in the north
grows eloquent on the subject Of
Panama's S possibilities. I'VE could"
he says, with comparatively little
money and effort make ourselves
economically independent. Poll
tics is one of our chief handicaps.
Political agitation in Panama City
keeps the public mind centered on
the Canal Zone and perpetuates
the opinion and belief that our
only economic salvation must
come from our relations with the
Canal Zone. Even If this were
true we are not being wise In our
attitude and in our efforts"
Public May Wake Up
I'VE want the Canal Zone to do
away with commissaries," he con-
tinued, so that the inhabitants
would have to trade with our
Panamanian shops and stores.
But even If they did, we would
have little or nothing to offer
them but manufactures, trinkets
and articles imported from the
United States and elsewhere. We
would not have the meats, vege-
tables and other food products to
supply them, because we do not
produce any of them in quanti-
ties. Go down Avenida Central
here in Panama City," he said,
"and all you see are bars, night
clubs, honky tonks, solid rows Of
them. There are practically no
fruit and vegetable markets. Even
Panamanians themselves are
largely dependent upon imports
for the food they eat"
Then he thought for q minute
and said, Maybe this Ill wind
now blowing our way, the curtail-
ment of military personnel and.
therefore. a dwindled trade for
what stores. shops and business
concerns we have, the failure Of
the United States to increase or
build new Canal facilities, and
the possible loss of much Of the
trade we already have, will even
tually Seep through the Pana-
manian consciousness. And" he
added, when the public does be-
come conscious Of the fact that