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Panama THE BISECTED REPUBLIC
The War Years
After ratifying the Hull-Alfaro Treaty in 1939, Panama and the
United States began preparation for and collaboration in the coming
war effort. Cooperation in this area proceeded smoothly for more
than a year, with the republic participating in the series of
conferences, declarations, and protocols that solidified the
support of the hemisphere behind Washington's efforts to meet the
threat of Axis aggression. This cooperation halted with the
inauguration of Arnulfo Arias.
Arnulfo Arias has been elected to the presidency at least three
times since 1940 (perhaps four or five if, as many believe, the
vote counts of 1964 and 1984 were fraudulent), but he has never
been allowed to serve a full term. He was first elected when he
headed a mass movement known as Panameñismo. Its essence was
nationalism, which in Panama's situation meant opposition to United
States hegemony. Arias aspired to rid the country of non-Hispanics,
which meant not only North Americans, but also West Indians,
Chinese, Hindus, and Jews. He also seemed susceptible to the
influence of Nazi and Fascist agents on the eve of the United
States declaration of war against the Axis.
North Americans were by no means the only ones in Panama who
were anxious to be rid of Arias. Even his brother, Harmodio, urged
the United States embassy to move against the leader. United States
officials made no attempt to conceal their relief when the National
Police, in October 1941, took advantage of Arias's temporary
absence from the country to depose him.
Arnulfo Arias had promulgated a new constitution in 1941, which
was designed to extend his term of office. In 1945 a clash between
Arias's successor, Ricardo Adolfo de la Guardia, and the National
Assembly, led to the calling of a constituent assembly that elected
a new president, Enrique A. Jiménez, and drew up a new
constitution. The constitution of 1946 erased the innovations
introduced by Arias and restored traditional concepts and
structures of government.
In preparation for war, the United States had requested 999-
year leases on more than 100 bases and sites. Arias balked, but
ultimately approved a lease on one site after the United States
threatened to occupy the land it wanted. De la Guardia proved more
accommodating; he agreed to lease the United States 134 sites in
the republic but not for 999 years. He would extend the leases only
for the duration of the war plus one year beyond the signing of the
peace treaty.
The United States transferred Panama City's water and sewer
systems to the city administration and granted new economic
assistance, but it refused to deport the West Indians and other
non-Hispanics or to pay high rents for the sites. Among the major
facilities granted to the United States under the agreement of 1942
were the airfield at Río Hato, the naval base on Isla Taboga, and
several radar stations.
The end of the war brought another misunderstanding between the
two countries. Although the peace treaty had not entered into
effect, Panama demanded that the bases be relinquished, resting its
claim on a subsidiary provision of the agreement permitting
renegotiation after the cessation of hostilities. Overriding the
desire of the United States War Department to hold most of the
bases for an indefinite period, the Department of State took
cognizance of growing nationalist dissatisfaction and in December
1946 sent Ambassador Frank T. Hines to propose a twenty-year
extension of the leases on thirteen facilities. President Jiménez
authorized a draft treaty over the opposition of the foreign
minister and exacerbated latent resentment. When the National
Assembly met in 1947 to consider ratification, a mob of 10,000
Panamanians armed with stones, machetes, and guns expressed
opposition. Under these circumstances the deputies voted
unanimously to reject the treaty. By 1948 the United States had
evacuated all occupied bases and sites outside the Canal Zone.
The upheaval of 1947 was instigated in large measure by
university students. Their clash with the National Police on that
occasion, in which both students and policemen were killed, marked
the beginning of a period of intense animosity between the two
groups. The incident was also the first in which United States
intentions were thwarted by a massive expression of Panamanian
rage.
Data as of December 1987
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