Surviving UPCA's role in WWI?

[Don Lardo]

Your argument would be much more persuasive if you could reference a source I could, say, look up online and read

Try Google books. Or better yet a library.

Alternatively, I can go to Wikipedia, or Google, and be told in no uncertain terms that it was the French government...

Wiki? Really? Anyway, read those entries again.

... it was the French government...

No. It was a private company which later required several government bail-outs.

... working through de Lesseps...

No. de Lesseps was 74 at the time and visited the project once. He had no connection with the project other than the initial meeting setting up the company and various PR efforts. He didn't even sign off on the construction plans. His son, who was later jailed for his actions, used him a a rubber stamp.

... project was a major scandal in France, an embarrassment to the French government...

It became a scandal when the private company ran out of money and began bribing French deputies for their votes on a series of government bailouts. Then, after the private company failed, the government took over in a halfhearted manner for reasons of "prestige". The government took one look and slowly shut down the project after a decent interval.

Please note, a private company began the project, required government bailouts, and ultimately failed. Only then did the French government officially enter the picture.

Also, while I am normally not against...

Whatever.

I used only bold to highlight my corrections of the mistaken assumptions in your original post.

 

[wolf_brother]

Try Google books. Or better yet a library.

I was unable to find a copy on GoogleBooks. I was, however, able to find a Torrent of the book; however I do not know what this board's rules & regs on encouraging or discussing such things are. My local library is not open at this time nor day, and I attempting to have a discussion/debate with you and others about this subject now. If you, as the person with the burden of proof, could provide a link to a reputable website showing the information you are arguing...

Wiki? Really? Anyway, read those entries again.

Yes, really. In fact looking for the book you mentioned in Wikipedia takes me to a stub, which then has a link directing me back to the same page I have viewed several times now throughout this thread; 'History of the Panama Canal'

No. It was a private company which later required several government bail-outs.

>> citation required

No. de Lesseps was 74 at the time and visited the project once. He had no connection with the project other than the initial meeting setting up the company and various PR efforts. He didn't even sign off on the construction plans. His son, who was later jailed for his actions, used him a a rubber stamp.

I'm not arguing that de Lesseps was severely under-qualified to lead such a project. The fact that he was convinced that a sea-level channel could be dug through the mountainous, rocky-spine of Central America, and through the course of a major seasonal-flood river which would have to be diverted, all for a smaller cost both financially and in terms of man-power and speed than his earlier work on the Suez Canal, a soft-sand sea-level area...

It became a scandal when the private company ran out of money and began bribing French deputies for their votes on a series of government bailouts. Then, after the private company failed, the government took over in a halfhearted manner for reasons of "prestige". The government took one look and slowly shut down the project after a decent interval.

Please note, a private company began the project, required government bailouts, and ultimately failed. Only then did the French government officially enter the picture.

>> citation required

Whatever.

I used only bold to highlight my corrections of the mistaken assumptions in your original post.

It's a pet-peeve of mine, and you unfortunately suffered the brunt of its venting. I humbly apologize on this matter for my earlier obtuse actions.

 

[Don Lardo]

... I do not know what this board's rules & regs on encouraging or discussing such things are.

I think you were wise as I don't think IP theft is looked well upon here. IIRC, someone was recently kicked for plagiarism.

If you, as the person with the burden of proof...

I'm the person with the burden of proof?

What about you too? You've made claims, claims which I've taken exception to, but claims all the same.

(Sorry about the bold. I know it's one of your peeves, but I felt the emphasis was needed.)

>> citation required

How about a Wiki page to start?

hxxp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_scandals

There you can read about the government's continued support of the failing French company. You'll also find this link...

hxxp://www.ak190x.de/Bauwerke/panamaen.htm

... with several interesting passages such as:

Following this news, the Panama stocks reached a new low of 282 gold Francs. In March 1888, several ministers formulated a law allowing the Panama Canal Company to carry out a lucrative lottery loan, with guaranteed funds. Three months later, the Panama Canal Company was authorized by law to set up a government supported lottery loan to the tune of 720 million gold Francs...

The French government intervened regularly to keep the company afloat and even interfered in the liquidation of the company in the hopes of recouping more money.

I'm not arguing that de Lesseps was severely under-qualified to lead such a project.

No, but you are arguing he was leading the project when in fact he wasn't. He was a merely a figurehead routinely trotted out to assuage nervous investors and was eventually even replaced in that role.

It's a pet-peeve of mine...

Don't worry, we all have them.

 

[Shackel]

Well, assuming WWI ends the same way, how would the FPCA fare in WWII?

Again, assuming it doesn't collapse into instability and chaos.