POSITION IN PANAMA

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1936, Page 3

POSITION IN PANAMA

THE UNMIXED ELEMENTS. Napoleon once referred to the Suez ! as the ‘‘wasplike waist of the' British Empire” (writes Paul V. Shaw from Panama City to the “Christian Science Monitor”). Then, of course, there was no Suez Canal. The Panamanians, however, prefer to think of the Panama Canal as “the bridge of the world,” and of their republic as “The land that divided so the world might be united.” The canal is a fact which has brought to realisation many fanciful dreams, many of which were dreamed long before the canal was begun. Istlin.iu.ses by- tlieir very natureseem to inspire ideals of union, cooperation, and solidarity, and Panama, ever since it was the knot which kept the Spanish Empire knit together, has been the scene of congresses and conferences of an international character.

It has been a bridge, too. Over it Mayan influences spread to northern I South America, and across it trav-J elled American goods destined for i Spain and Spanish goods, for Arne-1 rica. Across the old Cruces trail I forty-niners wended their way to ships which were to carry them to the goldfields of California. That is the most important Panamanian reality of the moment. Here the traveller finds the whole world to shop from. Here he finds every race and creed and culture. Here are turbaned Hindus, pig-tailed Chinese, al-mond-eyed Japanese, British and Spanish negroes, San Blas Indians, Spanish Peruvians, “white” Americans, and Spanish Panamanians. They own, operate, or manage stores, restau- ! rants, salesrooms, hotels, light and power companies, street-cars, and taxis, railroads and ships, schools and churches. And even among the animals there is racial and cultural confusion. Retired American Army mules haughtily wag their big ears at little Spanish burros that pass with quick Senorita-like steps. Of necessity two elements in this scene will never fuse and become amalgamated. The Canal Zone is a strip of American territory where thousands of civilians and many more army and navy men and women lead a life which, though adapted to tropical conditions, is American in almost every detail. There are no physical barriers between the “zonite” and the Panamanians, but the cultural and artificial barriers which separate them are enormous. Like nouveaux riches many zonites look down with condescension on their neighbours across the line, and though the Panamanians wince they must accept a situation they are helpless to alter. Within Panama itself is another group which remains somewhat aloof and leads its own life almost completely independent of that of the republic which acts as its host. This is the British negro from Jamaica and other British possessions who was brought first by France, and then by the United States, to dig the “bigditch.” Thousands of them live and work in Panama, and though funds have been obtained to repatriate them only about 500 have taken advantage of the opportunity to go back home. Like others they prefer to say in Panama.

These negroes have their own schools and churches, their own clubs I and quarters, their own social life) and businesses. Many of them never learn Spanish, though the bilingualnegro is in demand for public services when 1 lite two languages are

needed, as happens in' many institutions which- cater to Panama’s poly-, glot public. They rarely intermarry with the Spanish or Panamanian negroes, and show the same sort of condescension towards them which the American “white” displays towards the Panamanian “white.” IMPACT OF IDEAS. Unfortunately, as in Cuba, some American ideas with- respect to race have appeared to complicate the racial problem of Panama. There is prejudice among and against many groups. Unhealthy superiority and inferiority attitudes deepen the cleavages between races and retard the cultural and the possible racial fusion wliicli may or might come.

Already the Panamanian melting | pot is beginning to melt. Mixtures can be seen on every street, and in almost every home. But it is interesting to note that race as such is far less important than culture. And were there eyes to note these facts in Panama itself, much of the prejudice now extant would vanish as if by magic. The canal which divides the nation in two and the American zone with its integrated but isolated colony separate what the Panamanians had hoped would be united. They are awakening to the problem and cherish the hope that the new treaty between themselves and Washington will make possible the bridging of the growing gap between Panama and the ■United States, as even the Panama Canal is bridging the gap between East and West, and between North and South. . Zonites can help by being less “superior” and more human. Washington can help by permitting the Panamanian Government freer opportunity to build roads across the Isthmus. And all those who have come from .far and farther to make Panama their new home can help by playing the game in a co-operative spirit. Panama has taken all comers in good part up to now. But as a sovereign state she can make it uncomfoi table for the foreigner and force him to seek repatriation. But an idealist would like to see a future Panamanian culture arising from all that the world has to offer. The elements are all there.