711.1928/152
The Panaman Minister ( Alfaro ) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: In compliance with instructions received from my Government, I have the honor to make the following statements to Your Excellency:
In the speech which His Excellency Mr. Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States, gave in the Auditorium on the evening of the 11th instant, during the ceremony held there in commemoration of the Armistice, he said, among other things, the following:
“Our outlying possessions, with the exception of the Panama Canal Zone, are not a help to us but a hindrance.”
Although the Government of Panama does not even for a moment think that the phrase quoted is intentional, the fact remains that with these words the President of the United States implicitly classified the Panama Canal Zone among the “possessions” of the United States. The term “possessions” is used in current language in regard to those territories which nations acquire in full dominion and ownership by means of colonization, annexation, purchase, conquest, or by other methods recognized by international law. None of these methods is of the same kind as the grant sui generis made by the Republic of Panama to the United States by the Treaty of November 18, 1903.17
In virtue of the foregoing, my Government desires to declare its disagreement with any expression which may be contrary to the idea which Panama holds concerning the legal status of the territorial zone whose “use, occupation and control” was granted to the United States for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation and protection of the inter-ocean canal.
Otherwise, the statement made by His Excellency the President that the Canal Zone is a help to the United States is a source of real pleasure to my Government. Panama is glad that it is so recognized and feels sincere satisfaction in having contributed, through the use of its territory, to the realization of the dream of four centuries. Our two countries bound themselves together with ties so close as to be indestructible when, upon the signing of the agreement of 1903, not [Page 680] only did world commerce benefit, but the greatness and strength of the United States were consolidated. My Government confidently hopes that our international relations will always be infused with this first and supreme consideration.
I repeat to your Excellency [etc.]