Philippe Bunau-Varilla
 Philippe Bunau-Varilla    (soldier, engineer, lobbyist) | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 26 July 1859 |
| Died | 18 May 1940 (Age 80) |
| Nationality | French |
| Interests | • Dreyfus affair • Alfred Dreyfus • Panama Canal |
French national who helped to bring about the Panama Canal project | |
Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla was a French engineer, soldier and political lobbyist. With the assistance of American lobbyist and lawyer William Nelson Cromwell, he greatly influenced Washington's decision concerning the construction site for the Panama Canal. He worked closely with President Theodore Roosevelt in the latter's orchestration of the Panamanian Revolution, and represented Panama in the treaty negotiations leading to the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty (1903).
Activities
Panama Canal
- Full article: Panama Canal
- Full article: Panama Canal
The construction of a canal that would physically connect two oceans and free ships from the need to circumnavigate South America was planned at the end of the 19th century. However, the French Panama Canal Company, which reached an agreement with the Colombian government to implement the project, went bankrupt under the weight of accusations of document forgery and manipulation. The construction project of the century was almost abandoned, but then Philippe Jean Bunau-Varilla, a former French military man and daredevil adventurer, entered the historic stage. He bought up the majority of the shares and took them to the USA, where he managed to establish close contacts with the Republicans. At the beginning of the 20th century, Bunau-Varilla effectively became the most important implementer of the project and representative of US interests. He of all people convinced the company's shareholders to sell the construction of the canal as a complete package to Washington for 40 million dollars. He also contributed to the signing of a contract under which a six-kilometer-wide strip where the canal was to run was leased to the USA. Colombia's Congress refused to ratify the document. Bunau-Varilla then immediately supported Panamanian separatists who wanted to establish an independent state, for which he was promoted to ambassador to it. The USA immediately recognized Panama's independence, in return for which the land in question was handed over to them in perpetuity.[1]
Dreyfus Affair
- Full article: Dreyfus Affair
- Full article: Dreyfus Affair
Britannica writes that Bunau-Varilla, with his brother Maurice, helped to exonerate the military engineer Alfred Dreyfus by publishing proof that evidence of his supposed treason had been forged.[2]
