Historians of United States policy towards Latin America in the first half of the twentieth century have paid remarkably little attention to Washington's dealings with the republic of Panama. The failure to explore this terra incognita is all the more surprising in the light of the fact that those dealings hinged round one of America's vital interests, the Panama Canal, which runs through the heart of the country and has given Panama an importance unique in U.S. diplomacy. Yet much of the detailed history of the relationship remains unknown.