711F.1914/1–1747: Telegram
The Ambassador in Panama (Hines) to the Secretary of State
33. At the request of the Foreign Minister2 I went to his office this morning and found that he had arranged a conference consisting of himself, Minister of Government and Justice Sucre and Minister of Public Works Vallarino.2a He opened the conversation by advising me that they had been discussing the defense sites agreement and the existing situation with reference to our occupation of the bases and that they desired to take up with me a solution which they felt would be most helpful and lead to final agreement upon the occupation of the bases. The Foreign Minister talked from a memorandum hastily prepared he said and which he promised to furnish me with a copy later in the day. He again referred to the lengthy new agreement and the many matters in the proposed new agreement that were not included in the 1942 agreement3 which he said would require considerable time to study and reach a conclusion on. The proposition which he made may be summarized as follows:
First. That a communiqué be issued jointly by the two Governments indicating their obligations under the 1936 treaty4 and announcing that the 1942 agreement would be superseded by a new agreement, for one year, that under the new agreement the bases would be occupied under a joint trusteeship consisting of General Crittenberger5 and Minister of Government and Justice Sucre.
Second. On a given date the bases would be—as he put it—symbolically returned by the holding of a ceremony at some suitable base which would mark the ending of the old agreement and the commencement of the new tentative arrangement for one year. The new [Page 882] agreement would cover only those things necessary for the administration of the bases as they are now. The Foreign Minister said there were only five points in the new agreement which he had agreed to send me. After he had concluded his statement on the new agreement which he proposed I asked him definitely what the “symbolic return” contemplated. He indicated that the radar stations and those needed at all times would continue in their present status; that he was hopeful that a short interval would intervene marking the end of the 1942 agreement and the signing of the tentative agreement for one year. I told him that I felt sure that we could not agree to abandon the bases where we had valuable property and installations which required guarding at all times. He then asked if it would not be possible to reduce the care-taking detachments to a minimum for a short interval and then reman them to the extent necessary. At this point Minister Sucre offered the suggestion which the Foreign Minister accepted—that because of the value of installations and property on the bases—that by an exchange of notes agreed upon beforehand it would be indicated that it was agreeable to the Panamanian Government for such detachments as may be determined necessary by the Commanding General be retained on the bases: That during the interval of one year from the signing of the tentative agreement careful study and consultation under Article 10 of the 1936 agreement would be undertaken and a new long term agreement be worked out. It was quite evident that the new plan contemplates finding a way to reestablish in the minds of the people confidence that we do not desire to retain Panamanian territory under our control unless it is mutually agreed to by the Panamanian Government. It is their feeling that this; arrangement will work out in such way that it will in no way jeopardize the protection of the Canal and that it will remove the present barrier to the negotiation of a satisfactory new agreement. I was with the members of the conference for one and three-quarter hours and near the [end?] thereof Minister Sucre again referred to those needs of Panama which I have previously reported to the Department. It was quite evident that he feels strongly that at the time they make an announcement on the renewal of an agreement on the occupation of the bases that some statement should be made at the same time indicating that the United States contemplates doing certain things that will be of assistance to Panama. This preliminary report is being made pending the receipt of the memorandum used by the Foreign Minister which he promised to have delivered to me either later in the day or early tomorrow.