Evening star., 1959-11-21
u. ). Insists
Panama Act
Responsib|y
BY JOHN ". HORNER
star star writer

Int Oulttu 6baVG8 ~ TAKING
a firm position that the gov
ernment Of Panama must as
sumo q more responsible role If
1t expects TO settle differences
with this country over the
Panama Canal.
This stand was made clear
here as Deputy Undersecretary
Of State Livingston T. Merchant
reached Panama for a round of
conferences with officials. He
hopes to ease strained relations
between the two countries.
1t is contended in Washing
ton that the Panamanian au-
thorities showed q complete
lack Of responsibility in failing
to check an unruly mob during
violent anti United States dem
onstrations November 8.
Flag Torn Down
On that day, the mob tore
down q United States nag at
the embassy and stormed across
the border of the Panama
Canal Zone. Zone police and
military forces repelled the
crowd and 50 Panamanians
were injured.
Ofhcials here say everything
possible has been done to in
form the Government Of Pam
anna that the United States is
aware Of its problems and is
eager to find solutions. But,
they add, nothing can be solved
until an atmosphere Of calm
and tranquility is restored.
The principal trouble stems
from extreme nationalism-
from some Panamanians who
insist their country should have
sovereignty in the Canal Zone
and from different interpre-
tations Of a treaty covering
operation conditions at the
canal.
Wages Is Issue
One issue vexing the PAN
amanianS is money. They COM
plain workers brought in from
the United States fare better
on payday despite an agree
ment for equal pay.
Off1cialS here say wages are
the same for the same jobs, ex.
cept that Americans, under a
worldwide policy, draw a Is
per cent bonus in the form of
foreign service differentials.
Also, there are more Pana-
manians than Americans in the
unskilled labor category, and
conversely there are more
Americans than Panamanians
in the better-paying skilled
classification.
The United States makes
available training courses for
those who wish to qualify later
for more remunerative Jobs.
but so far only a few Panama :
mans have taken. advantage of
this opportunity.
Arias at White House
1t Is pointed out that United
States friendship and interest
In Panama was made obvious
october IL, when President
Eisenhower received Ambassa-
dor Ricardo Arias at the White
House. This was Immediately
before Mr.. Arias went home to
make plans for his presidential
election campaign next year.
The Ambassador returned to
Washington last week end be-
cause Of the strained inter-
national relations. On Monday
he conferred with Secretary of
State Herter and expressed
pleasure at a decision Of Mr..
Herter to send a high-ranking
United States ofneial to PAN
ANA to help smooth troubled
waters. Deputy Undersecretary
Merchant left on that mission
yesterday, but Ambassador
AriaS was not at the airport to
say goodby.
The United States obviously
is miffed at the failure Of PAN
amanian authorities to prevent
the violence of November 8
They are particularly annoyed
because Ambassador Julian
Harrington on October 21 called
the Panama governments at
tention to reports that disorder
could be expected and asked
Panamanian oficials to main
tain law and order.
fl