819.00/2–1945: Telegram
The Chargé in Panama (Donnelly) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20—7:10 a.m.]
159. At 10:45 tonight a bomb exploded as two American Army officers were entering their private car which was parked near the Internacional Hotel in Panama City injuring one of the officers. The Panamanian police detained the two, taking the injured officer to a Panamanian hospital for treatment and second one to the police station. They have since been turned over to the American Military Police.
General Brett has taken the following action:
- 1.
- He has declared a normal alert.
- 2.
- He has instructed the Acting Governor to prohibit the politicians at the Tivoli Hotel from leaving the hotel, receiving visitors, visiting with each other, and from using the telephone or other communications.
- 3.
- He is telegraphing the War Department requesting an immediate decision on the measures that should be taken against the politicians at the Tivoli.
General Brett has just told me that bombs were also found tonight in cars of Panamanians. He believes therefore that the placing of the bomb was not intended to create an incident with the Canal authorities but was merely a part of a general terrorist movement.
As in this and all other matters relating to the present political situation, I am collaborating fully with General Brett and the Acting Governor and I am receiving their full cooperation.
Repeated to Mexico for Warren.43
- Avra M. Warren was representing the United States at the Inter-American Conference on Problems of War and Peace in Mexico City.↩