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2/12/1964 - Panama by Malcolm D. Deas

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS February Panama Bogot Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Nolte It happened before happen again Such opinion sides Moods differed In Zone I found weary resignation It nobody fault surprisingly frequent comment Where there anger often undirected An article Charleston paper occupying whole columns contained little aimless The author described armory extensive family house garden Zonians normal human beings angry happened But nearest finding focus anger those North Americans maintained Zonians normal human beings apart Some Zonians sensitive charge It often mostly South innuendo being racialists deserve The original canal builders Southern formation Zonian mentality obvious likely explanations Many lived their lives colonial atmos phere Those Who Zone those Zone essen tially practical Zone practical diplomacy public private their business Their familiar Englishman American technicians empire They misunderstood betrayal In Republic I noticed people justified technical pride different burnt meant burnt In Panama their targets conspicuous Colon Cristobal where Company buildings mixed others foreign owned Panamanian discriminated neatly wrecked thoroughly proof diplomatic efficiency They language making specific points Panamanians great pains clear their tility towards Zonians I heard again again We nothing against Americans That Zonians liked fiercely liked known expected being mistaken Panamanian Zone customs official share dislike Spanish prepared waste ordered around brusque comprehensible gestures which expected immediately obeyed The trast between Colon Crlstobal sharp I crossed other I thought remained shining whole effect poverty depression cloud That Zonians liked needs explanation strange United States referred their Money lower Panamanian ircles mentioned The issue sovereignty dignity President Chiari billing himself El Presidente Dignidad Nacional opponents reply dignified politics nation dignity Another expression sense offended dignity large painted slogan close unguarded neglected shell Pan Am building Panama burdella Yankee I offered women Panama would needed desperate battleship another aspect dignity I always assured foreign Panamanian girls Perhaps reflection comparative living standards Caribbean taken criticism narrowness American Republic Cuba similar objections The patriotism Panamanians I talked sincere point tedium their plaintive cries Justicia justicia their demand I Europe soothing promises could easily whole afternoon Perhaps depth Panamanian nationalism S underestimated respectability history There references pseudo nationalism useful meaning I suppose nationalism American press these Its attitude large candid Teddy Roosevelt Panama methods honest But candid looks whole truth matter Panamanian insult occur Americans regard honest owning Under various names Colombia nineteenth century united nation Isthmus department least united showed persistent spirit independence Bogot other region Attempts secession began early Panama behaved separate entity confused politics proclaimed itself independent until satisfied Colombian constitution suffic iently federal Isthmian taste Apprehensively Colombia began diplomatic search guarantees sovereignty She obtained themin Washington motives United States being predominantly tegic Brltish From signing treaty signing treaty Panama Isthmus experienced fifty three revolutions rebellions riots other outbreaks dozen American interventions There characteristic vicious circle Panamanian separatist scheming disorder which brought American intervention would alarm Colombia Colombia would protest support protests bringing order Isthmus natural result strengthen Panamanian separatist feeling preparing further disturbances further American interventions America growing appetite tervention involvement Panama increasing directly foreseen right intervene granted Many Americans crossed Isthmus California during Gold Rush railway built brought friction transit taxes there always canal It profit In against Americans suspension lations Colombia years During Civil War North claimed passage troops obvious right under treaty claim strongly denied In these disputes Panamanian politicians ready their offers better contracts better treaties could Bogota The revolution quiet quiet large because mooted Panama Roosevelt American attitudes unjustifiably paternal Panama being grown blackmailing bastard America thinks youth should against waves threat alterna canal threat already diplomatic force warns style bargaining cannot forever But perhaps There deals think looks President Johnson afford large concession perhaps reason American papers offered understanding along their sketch showing distance Havana Canal It unlikely Panamanian government would genuine internationalization geographical resource greater political resource present American state Initiatives certainly studied difficulties great precedents The right political diplomatic weather Much might still Company which excessively mysterious undamental solution within power It clear therefore diplomat treaties perpetuity except small plots international agencies belong earlier Zonians little In their worried moments appear animals verge extinction through specialization freak environment They happened happened before would happen again Panamanians Zone still there American Embassy Hilton Hotel inviting target Who sufficient force decision cannot forever That evidence contrary Yours sincerely Malcolm Deas Received New York February