The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-01-15
BONNER TALKS
| COMMON
ABOUT PANAMA
Chairman of Merchant Marine
Conveys Thoughts to Seere-
tary Herfer

Representative Herbert C. Bon
ner (D-N.C.), Chairman of the
House Committee on Merchant Ma.
rire and Fisheries, has released
the text of a BETTER to the Secre-
tary of State requesting a report
on the attitude of the State De-
partment in connection with the
present unrest in Panama. Mr.. Bon
ner expressed great concern for the
future of the Panama Canal since
present traffic indicates the need
for vast expenditures in the fore
seeable future to maintain serv-
| ice.
Commenting upon the role of the
Canal, Mr.. Bonner said, GAS an
American / am extremely proud of
the achievement of our country in
constructing this great work. / am
vitality concerned with its mainte-
nance as an artery of world wide
commerce and / view with concern
the continued pressure of the
Panamanian government for con-
cessions that can only tend to inn
pair it's future usefulness. The need
for large expenditures to keep the
canal abreast of future needs is
evident and / am concerned lest
the agitation of the past few years
will make it more difficult, if not
impossible, to persuade the tax
payers of the United States to
meet these needs.
The text of the letter follows:
Honorable Christian A. Herter
The Secretary of State
Washington %, D. c.
Dear Mr.. Secretary:
AS I am sure you are aware,
developments i'm world wide COM
merce in recent years have made
it apparent that the Panama Canal,
in it's present state, will soon be
incapable of handling the i1lcreas-
ing demands of traffic. While the
general problem has been recog-
nized for some time it has become
accumulated not only by the UNI
precedented number of ships
transiting the Canal in the post
war period, but by the growing
trend toward larger and larger
ships in the bulk trades. The huge,
super-ore-carriers and combina-
ton oil and ore carriers which re-
quire special traffic control with
in the Canal area lend emphasis
to the situation. According TO our
best information, the next decade
would be critical unless ways and
means are found and put into eff
feet to increase traffic handling
ability.
In recognition of the foregoing,
our Committee has called upon a
distinguished group of technical
and economic consultants to study
the operations of the existing ca
nal, to review previously proposed
alternatives and to evolve plans
for adequate isthmian transit ia
cilities to meet reasonably antici-
pated needs for the future. The
alternatives being considered in
volve either complete reconstruc-
ton of the present canal or con-
stluction of a sea level canal on
the present site or elsewhere in
Central America. The Panama Ca
nal Company, viewing the same
problems, has prepared plans for
modernization of existing facilities
and procedures to assure prompt
transits for the future.
On the basis of studies made
by our own Board of Consultants,
as we'll as those made by the Pana-
ma Canal Company, it appears that
in order to insure continued eff
ficient functioning of the canal and
keep it abreast of currently grow
ing traffic requirements, the ex-
penditure of some $50 million for
modernization will be required. To
meet long range needs, it is con-
sentative to state that minimum
requirements will equal or exceed
the original construction cost of
the present canal.
This country has, of course,
great stake in the Panama Canal
as an investment, crucial defense
asset, and as a facility of inesti-
mable Importance to our CONNER
cial and economic well-being. Ac-
cordingly, in the light of our know
ledge as to impending need for ex-
penditures of very large sums for
modernization of trans-isthmian
transit facilities, this Committee is
greatly concerned over the present
unrest and continued pressure by
the Republic of Panama for privi-
leges and concessions not included
in or contemplated by the original
treaty. In other words, serious
questions have been raised regard
ing the justification for the ex-
penditure of large sums in an area
which appears to be, at present at
least, extremely unstable.
| In order to assist the Committee
= Al . .