IS IT STAGE-MANAGED?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19828, 30 April 1927, Page 6

IS IT STAGE-MANAGED?

There is something rather comic about the cabled report of Panama sending a Note to the United States Government, demanding the release of a rum-running ship, which was seized outside of United States jurisdiction. The humour does not so much lie in the fact that a small country is standing up to a big one, although the spectacle of the toy republic of Panama on its dignity against the mighty U.S.A, certainly does remind one of the story of the flea who asked the elephant whom he was shoving.

The real humour of the situation lies in the fact that Panama is virtually a part of the United States. Its territory was filched from Colontbia in order to give the U.S.A, political control of the territory the Canal runs. The situation was camouflaged by erecting Panama into an ostensibly independent State with a constitution and Government of its own. But it is completely under the thumb of the United States and in all things and at all times must do as it is told. The situation, therefore, so much resembles the ease of a man making a demand upon himself that one wonders whether or not it has been arranged, for the purpose of impressing somebody or other. The United States wants to build another canal through Nicaragua, but the latter hesitates, being of opinion that its present economic domination by the States is quite enough, without having to submit to a political overlordship as well. But, if the Panama demand is conceded by Washington, will not that be proof that the U.S.A, has a real respect for the rights of small nations—on the surface? Will Nicaragua swallow the bait ?