THE PANAMA EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16314, 22 February 1915, Page 4

THE PANAMA EXHIBITION.

I Dkritte his preoccupation with affairs of i much greater national importance arising ! cutoF the war, the President of the United States has found opportunity to press the neccssaryi button—or perform some ceremony akin thereto—whereby all the machinery connected with the opening of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition has been set in motion from Washington. So far as Europe and the whole British Empire as well are concerned it goes without saying that the war has robbed the Exposition of practically all interest. •Such an event as is now being celebrated in San Francisco is one of the triumphs of peace, and the fact that so large a portion of the world is at present engaged in war detracts from the appropriateness of the opening of a "world's fair" at such a juncture. But after so much elaborate preparation the great Exhibition at San FTancisco, designed to celebrate fittingly the completion of the Panama Canal—a work of world-wide importance —had to be proceeded with, war or no war, and although in the circumstances it must fall far short of expectations in its international aspect, the American people may be depended upon to make it a national success unless the

United States should become more seriously concerned in thfr war than there is any reason just now to anticipate. Doubtless the ,'it.loudar" e of Americans at the Exhibition will be enormous, th.' usual holiday flight of American tourists to Europe being diverted to Fan Francisco. ft h. rather early, however, to specuhte as to the success which tho Exhibition is likely to prove or as to tho extent to which it may perhaps be shorn of its gloiy. It seemed a pre-eminently proper thing that the official festivities celebrating ibo completion and opening of the. "j'ajiajna Canal should be so planned thai ail nations and peoples might display their choicest products to demonstrate tlio stage of progress reached by the world in 1915, four hundred years after Balboa discerned the Pacific Ocean. Very appropriate, too, a few months pgo seamed tho hope ■which was then expressed that the Canal celebration would bo attended by 'so full a representation from all peoples that a better understanding anions men nrost result and make for univrn•.-..! peace, good will, and th.i triumphant progress of humanity." By the irony of fate it has been decreed that this pious aspiration shall not be materially realised. But as an advertisement for the Panama Canal, emphasising the facilities for trade and travel created by the new waterway connecting tho Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Exhibition will no doubt to a large extent repay the labour and expenditure it has involved, while at; a display upon a particularly lav'sh and imposing scale it will assuredly reflect credit upon American energy and enterprise. If the arrangements which 'were announced a month ago are adhered to President Wilson will review the American navy off the West Coast of the Canal zone on March 13 and proceed thereafter to San Francisco with the fleet. In view of the tension created by the war these plans are, however, quite likely to bo upset. Had there been no European war tho review would have included an assemblage of warships representative of practically all nations. As it is, Argentina, Cub;, Portugal, and Spain are expected to bo represented in the naval demonstration—if it takes place —in connection with fie Exposition celebrations.