819.00/2–2445: Telegram
The Chargé in Panama ( Donnelly ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2 p.m.]
187. It is now 10 a.m. and the Embassy has not yet received replies to its telegrams No. 170 February 21, 11 p.m., and 180 February 23 [Page 1250] noon.50 General Brett received a telegram last night from the War Department approving the formula and authorizing him to lift the alert. The War Department informed him that it had cleared the matter with the State Department and with Warren in Mexico City and that the latter had said that he would send a similar telegram to me. General Brett has decided to lift the alert at 12 noon today.
A representative of the Governor will meet with the Tivoli Hotel group this morning to inform them that (1) the alert will be lifted at 12 noon today; (2) the restrictions on their activities which have been in effect during the alert will terminate at noon and their status will again be governed by the rules in effect prior to the alert; (3) he will expect them to respect the spirit and letter of their agreement with him (copy of which is being forwarded by airmail); (4) he will remind them that their status at the hotel is of a temporary nature. The Governor will simultaneously send out a circular letter to all residents of the Canal Zone requiring them to report at once the names of any guests. The arms and ammunition taken from the politicians in the hotel (Embassy’s No. 168 of February 20, 5 p.m.52) will not be returned to them as long as they stay in the Canal Zone.51
Repeated to Mexico for Warren.