The Panama Canal: A Study in International Law and Diplomacy

In endeavoring to ascertain the position of the Panama Canal under the law of nations, written in 1911, the author, Dr. Harmodio Arias, who was President of Panama from 1932-36, has not confined himself to the consideration of the treaty stipulations that exist with regard to the interoceanic communication. For in order to arrive at the solution of some international problems it is sometimes necessary to inquire into the requirements of life, without losing sight of the tendencies of the law as manifested in the modern intercourse of nations. International Law, it must be borne in mind, is inseparably intertwined with some other branches of social science. It is for this reason that many of the notions therein contained cannot be expounded satisfactorily by mere legal reasoning. The author briefly dealt with some important factors - such as the geographical position of the canal and the interest that all nations have on the question of transit - which undoubtedly throw much light on the ultimate position that the Panama Canal will be made to assume.An appendix has been provided with the purpose of supplying an easy means of reference to the different articles of the treaties that deal with the matter under consideration.