Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The American Republics, Volume V

811F.504/150: Telegram

The Ambassador in Panama (Dawson) to the Secretary of State

Panamá, August 5, 1939—11 a.m.
[Received 1:45 p.m.]

82. In a conversation this morning the Secretary of Foreign Relations called my attention to the provisions regarding the employment of Americans found in the new locks bill.² He said that these provisions have caused a painful impression here as excluding Panamanians from desirable employment. He said that this seems contrary to the letter and spirit of the treaty³ and he referred specifically to the closing paragraph of article I and to the exchange of notes dealing with equalities of opportunity and treatment.

Dawson

2. Public Law 391 (H. R. 5129), approved August 11, 1939; 53 Stat. 1409.
3. General Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and exchange of notes, signed at Washington, March 2, 1936. For correspondence regarding negotiations, see Foreign Relations, 1933, vol. v. pp. 852 ff.; ibid., 1934, vol. v, pp. 581 ff.; ibid., 1935, vol. iv, pp. 889 ff. For text, see Department of State Treaty Series No. 945, or 53 Stat 1807.