THE CABINET: Secret Agreements

THE CABINET

Last week, culminating two years of negotiations, a general treaty was signed between the U. S. and the Republic of Panama to replace the Taft agreement. When approached, Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg (“Nervous Nellie”*) said that the terms of the agreement would be kept strictly secret. Of course the treaty is subject to ratification by the Senate, and the Senate will probably debate the treaty in open session next winter. The principal terms of the agreement are:

1) The northern area of Colon, including the Washington hotel and the territory surrounding the Colon hospital, the quarantine district and wireless stations, will be transferred to the U. S.

2) Panama will cooperate with the U. S. for the military protection of the Canal, and will consider herself in a state of war in any war in which the U. S. is a belligerent.

3) A joint Panama-U. S. board will issue airplane flight licenses to U. S. and Panama aviators only.

4) The Volstead Act will apply in the Canal Zone except as to liquor in transit, under seal, through the Zone or between two points within Panama.

5) The Panama Government will operate the customs at the Canal Ports instead of the U. S. Government, as now.

The U. S. public is not dependent upon the Department of State for information as to its foreign relations. A synopsis of the U. S.-Panama treaty was given out by the Panama Government at Balboa immediately upon its being signed.

After the drafting last week of an agreement between Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Lincoln C. Andrews and British Government officials for better U.S.-British co-operation on prohibition enforcement. (See p. 9.) Mr. Kellogg said: “It is not desirable to publish the text of the agreement for obvious reasons. . . .”

*A waggish name which Senators have pinned upon the Secretary because of his frail, fidgety physique, his meekness among the mighty.