“The time of solving political errors with weapons is over—absolutely over. It is doubtful that weapons have ever resolved anything of a lasting character anywhere in the world. I personally cannot remember a single case in history when a war, a military occupation, or a dictator’s decree achieved something that was not lost within a generation due to rebellions, uprisings, or clever abuse of political and economic entanglements. Gentlemen, look at India, Indonesia, Indochina, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Cyprus, and Algeria. You may also rest assured that the vassal states of the Soviet Union will not remain where they are today. Not a single one will remain. None of the political or economic systems in existence today will continue to exist. It is a matter of root causes and their consequences based on human character. The history of humanity tries to make us understand this fact. However, we do not seem willing to pay enough attention to the lessons of history. The dignified men in power are as stubborn and obstinate as a roulette player who claims to be following his lucky star. They continue to commit the same errors over and over in their blind belief that this time, in their one particular case, the final advantage will be on their side despite ten-thousand-year-old lessons of history.” The chairman’s neighbor, Senator Clifford, lightly tapped him on the shoulder to catch his attention. Understanding, the chairman nodded at Senator Clifford, picked up his mallet, and energetically pounded the table several times.
“Miss Norval, why are you telling us all this? It really does not have anything, absolutely anything, to do with the matter at hand.”
“Mr. Chairman, with all due respect, I honestly thought that the honorable gentlemen of the committee would have guessed my intention by now. Allow me to explain it briefly: Let us look at the Republic of Panama, and not only their government, but the people of Panama, who have never had any say in any negotiations or treaties since the abundantly dark circumstances of the founding of the Republic of Panama. Let us assume that the people remember that they have an inalienable right to their homeland: a right that a government installed by one foreign power cannot sell to another foreign power. And suppose that the people of Panama insist on the return of their native land, then what, Mr. Chairman? Will we honor the right of the Panamanian to self-determination? Or will our Marines teach the Panameños the necessary respect for the so-called holy treaties with machine guns, bayonets, and if they must, with atom bombs? I am not a prophet, gentlemen, but I am convinced that our government will be in hot water about the Panama Canal much sooner than we might think, given current global developments.”
“Miss Norval,” the chairman interrupted her, “I think that it is not our job here to worry about complications and difficulties that will probably never occur.”
“As you say, Mr. Senator, they will probably never happen. However, your choice of the word ‘probably’ allows for the possibility that such a complication might occur, even in your own mind.”
The chairman looked at Aslan blankly. Apparently, he did not know how to reply. He looked at his watch, compared it to the clock on the wall, glanced at his colleagues, rapped his gavel, and announced: “The committee has decided to adjourn the hearing until Monday at eleven o’clock in the morning. At that time, the questioning will continue.”
He rapped the gavel again. All those present rose, and the senators disappeared in order to come up with questions for the next interrogation, while the cameras followed their every movement.
“Good grief, I am so happy,” said Aslan to Beckford. “I am so glad that they adjourned the meeting. I was so caught up that I did not know how to get back to our canal. I can deal better with direct questions.”
“What do you need on Monday, ma’am?” asked Beckford.
“Every statistic that might possibly come up.”
Beckford was also glad that they had adjourned the hearing. He was pretty sure that one of the assistants in uniform who kept cavorting around him would not be opposed to a dinner invitation. He figured he could bribe her and make her more willing by offering her a job in his office. Assistant secretary or something like that. After all, her salary would not come out of his own pocket.
She accepted the invitation. However, when they arrived at her hotel, she said a quick “Good night!” and disappeared inside. That was all.
14.
On Monday morning, the cameras were once more already rolling twenty minutes before the actual show began. The patient television audience had to endure advice on the following: the only toothpaste that would truly keep their teeth healthy; the only carburetor in the world that could guarantee a savings in gasoline of 43.29 percent; the only mattress in the world that guaranteed healthy and normal sleep; the only ground coffee in sealed tin cans that fully retained its aroma until the very last cup of coffee; and the face cream that “gives you the fresh face of a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl—or your money back.”
Aslan appeared a few minutes before the beginning of the hearing. Once again, she was wearing a new dress. The cameras slid along the garment as if they wanted to undress her. Although this dress was also made in Vienna, they announced it as “le dernier cri,” manufactured by a famous company on Fifth Avenue. The next morning, the company received a bill for an advertisement they had not ordered. Of course, the company could refuse to pay for the advertisement, but then the advertiser would use the first opportunity to announce that they had erred, and that the company had not made the dress after all, since they did not have the latest models yet. The retraction would cause more damage than paying the large sum requested for the unwanted advertisement.
Senator Clifford assumed the position of chair this morning. Without any introductory niceties, he immediately began shooting questions at Aslan: “Miss Norval, the committee members and I are now convinced that it is indeed a possibility—even if it is a very remote one—that a conflict about the Panama Canal Zone might arise, just as it did in the unfortunate case of the Suez Canal several years ago. In the meantime, my colleagues and I have researched the possibility of building a new canal through Nicaragua or the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Have you heard or read about that, Miss Norval?”
“I am familiar with the literature about these plans. Both projects are feasible. Even combined, both projects would barely cost a twentieth of the canal that our company is intending to build. However, both canals would go through land that we do not own. Even if one or both of those countries were to sell or lease the land to us, we would not have any guarantee at all that we would not face the same problems someday that we might unexpectedly confront with regard to Panama. The only solution is to build a canal that runs through land we own in its entire length.”