John Hay, Secretary of State; and Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, Envoy Extraordinary to Panama from the Republic of France, sign the Hay Bunau-Varilla Treaty, granting the United states sovereignty over a strip of Panama five miles wide on both sides of the proposed Panama Canal and exclusive rights to build the canal.  The U.s. is to retain sovereignty in perpetuity over the Panama Canal Zone, in exchange an initial payment of 10,000,000 Dollars and annual payments of 250,000 Dollars—ALL IN GOLD.

       This begins the U.s.’ third attempt at nation building.

       NOTE: While “nation-building is a laudable goal, Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution for the united States says that “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government”; it does NOT state that “The United States shall guarantee to every nation on this planet a Republican Form of Government” [emphasis added].

       [added 4/5/2025]