Office of the Historian

711F.1914/9–1847: Telegram

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

secret
urgent
Panama City, September 18, 1947—9 a.m.

518. Embtel 517, September 17.46 Immediately after interview with Hall47 yesterday, De Diego48 and Filós consulted with. President regarding some points in Panama counter-proposal50 found objectionable by Embassy and they now agree to avoid mention of 1942 convention in Article 1, thus removing one of two principal difficulties in reaching agreement on sites. …

Panama also agrees to use our version of phrases “or involving” in Article 3 and “accords” in Article 4 (Embtel 517).

… I am now hopeful that we may reach agreement on periods of occupancy without resorting to ultimatum. However, I consider figures set in Annex “A” draft G are impossible of achievement and would appreciate urgent instruction giving shortest periods acceptable to War Department.

Hines
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. Carlos Hall, First Secretary of Embassy in Panama.↩
  3. Mario de Diego, First Secretary of the Panamanian Foreign Office.↩
  4. Forwarded by the Ambassador in Panama in despatch 4299, September 18, 1947, not printed.↩