711.19/201: Telegram
President Roosevelt to the Secretary of State
[Received July 23, 1934—10:25 p.m.]
Your July 23, 3 p.m. No decision reached with President Arias. I made suggestion that no private radio company engage in ship to shore service but that we would gladly give further study with Panama to possibility of the Panaman Government setting up their own ship to shore service with some United States Navy personnel in constant contact with such service and continuous access to all messages.
As to commissaries there should be no elimination of our service to ships but it should be limited to ship’s stores and not include luxuries. The Canal Zone Governor is, I gather, ready to give equal opportunity to a representative of Panama merchants to board all ships at the same time as his man does so, and to sell their wares in competition with Canal Zone commissary.
I suggest you resume conversations and hold final decision till my return.