Presuming the French did finish the canal and decided to keep it in their hands for the next few decades, would the US have eventually tried to seize it by force, or would they simply offer consistently higher offers until the French acceded?
Given that the French canal was a sea-level one, which would have been... interesting to build, to say the least. Given that it was undercapitalized, and that the disease régime was worse than anyone expected (partly due to strange habits of some mosquitoes), the OTL canal is simply not feasible.Presuming the French did finish the canal and decided to keep it in their hands for the next few decades, would the US have eventually tried to seize it by force, or would they simply offer consistently higher offers until the French acceded?
I think the US would invoke the *Roosevelt Corollary and, at the first opportunity convenient for them, snatch up the canal.
At this time Panama is still part of Columbia, US does as OTL and supports a Panamanian revolution and the canal is now in a different country that demands their sovreign territory back, if France refuses the US helps Panama take itAnd how, exactly, would the United States "snatch up" the canal from the French?
And how, exactly, would the United States "snatch up" the canal from the French?
As can only be expected. After all, France was a weak country, not some sort of globe-spanning empireSo.... If France builds the Panama canal, end result is that America steals it?
Is there any reason why France wouldn't be willing to lay the hurt on Panamanian rebels to protect its massive investment?At this time Panama is still part of Columbia, US does as OTL and supports a Panamanian revolution and the canal is now in a different country that demands their sovreign territory back, if France refuses the US helps Panama take it
In any case Panama cannot run a canal on their own and will need to make an agreement with the US to run it, that just happens to give the USA de facto ownership of the Canal
Construction of the Panama canal started a decade after the Franco-Prussian war.France: hello america.. yeah.. these germans just invaded and are kicking are tails..
America: ok.. we want the canal..
France: No
America: good luck.. maybe we could make a deal with the pointy hat fella's next door..
France: ermmm.. ok
As can only be expected. After all, France was a weak country, not some sort of globe-spanning empire
Is there any reason why France wouldn't be willing to lay the hurt on Panamanian rebels to protect its massive investment?
Construction of the Panama canal started a decade after the Franco-Prussian war.
And how, exactly, would the United States "snatch up" the canal from the French?
And how, exactly, would the United States "snatch up" the canal from the French?