711F.1914/432: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Panama (Wilson)
162. Your despatch 922, March 9, 1942. You are authorized to accept draft of Article I as proposed by Panama in its note D.P. 3239 dated March 6, 1942, inserting in paragraph 1 “definitive” before “treaty” and changing “state of emergency” to read “state of international insecurity”. The Panamanian proposal for Article V should be modified accordingly. You may likewise accept, [Page 599] making such changes in phraseology as you deem desirable, the suggested modifications of all other articles, except the proposed addition to Article VIII concerning wear and damage to roads and the proposals for Article XII concerning annual rentals.
The Department feels it is unable at this time to determine the extent of wear or damage to Panamanian roads which will be caused yearly by troop movements, and therefore prefers to retain the phraseology submitted by this Government. There would apparently be no more room for disagreement regarding the estimate at a later date than there is at the present time.
The Department reiterates its proposal of an annual rental of one balboa for all the public lands. Further consideration will be given the question of the rentals to be paid for the use of private lands when figures on the breakdown between public and privately owned lands are made available. Please urge the appropriate Panamanian authorities to endeavor to obtain this information for Department at earliest possible date. When agreement has been reached on all other provisions of the draft agreement, please forward copy of phraseology agreed upon.