Panama and the Canal in Picture and Prose

by Willis J. Abbot

A STREET IN CHORRERA

Mr. Roosevelt’s protestations of innocence had, however, little effect upon his own friends and party associates, for early in the Taft administration the conviction became general among men in high station that reparation of some sort was due to Colombia for what was—to express it guardedly—our connivance at a conspiracy that cost that republic its richest province—cost it further a lump payment of $10,000,000 and an annual sum of $250,000 to eternity. The records of diplomacy are enmeshed in many concealing veils, but enough is known of the progress of the negotiations to reflect credit upon the diplomacy of Colombia. That country has neither threatened nor blustered—and the undeniable fact that the comparative power of Colombia and the United States would make threats and bluster ridiculous would not ordinarily deter a Latin-American President from shrieking shrill defiance at least for the benefit of his compatriots. Colombia has been persistent but not petulant. It has stated its case to two administrations and has wrung from both the confession that the United States in that revolution acted the part of an international bandit. Out of the recesses of the Department of State has leaked the information that the United States has made to Colombia a tentative offer of $10,000,000, but that it had been refused. But the offer itself was a complete confession on the part of the United States of its guilt in the transaction complained of. Naturally, Colombia declined the proffered conscience money. Panama received from the United States not merely $10,000,000, but will get $250,000 a year for an indefinite period. All this Colombia lost and her valuable province as well because the captain of a United States man-of-war would not let the Colombian colonels on that day of revolution use force to compel a railroad manager to carry their troops across the Isthmus. The grievance of the Colombians is a very real and seemingly just one.

We hear much of the national honor in reference to canal tolls but less of it in relation to this controversy with Colombia. Yet that controversy ought to be settled and settled justly. It is inconceivable, of course, that it should be determined by restoring the status as it existed before that day of opera-bouffe revolution. Our investment in the Canal Zone, our duty to the world which awaits the opening of the Canal, and our loyalty to our partner, Panama, alike make that impossible. The Republic of Panama is an accomplished fact not to be obliterated even in the interest of precise justice. As the Persian poet put it:

“The moving finger writes, and having writ
Moves on; nor all your piety nor wit,
Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor all your tears wash out one word of it”.

President Roosevelt wrote the word Panama on the list of nations and moved on vastly pleased with the record.

Photo by Brown Bros.

THE TOWN OF EMPIRE, SOON TO BE ABANDONED

The situation at the same time is one not to be lightly dealt with. The United States is none too popular at any point south of its own borders. It is at the one time hated and feared. The very Panamanians whom we invested with independence have no liking for us and the hatred of the Colombians for the nation that despoiled them is so general and extreme that their rulers are entitled to the utmost credit for having observed all the courtesies of diplomacy in their efforts to secure some measure of reparation. The question presents itself, is it wise to leave such a hot-bed of hatred, of resentment perhaps justifiable, in the very midst of Latin America, just when we are hoping by our new Canal to extend and cement our commercial relations with them? Among the Latin Americans there is a very general feeling that our devotion to the Monroe Doctrine is indicative only of our purpose to protect our neighbors against any selfish aggressions except our own. It is of the very highest importance that this feeling be dissipated, and there is perhaps no more immediate way of beginning that task than by reaching such an agreement with Colombia as shall indicate to other South American governments our purpose of doing exact justice among our neighbors, be they great and powerful or small and weak.