611.19/4–1053: Telegram

The Ambassador in Panama (Wiley) to the Department of State

secret

528. Remon and wife dined alone with us last night.1 Remon insisted he set no store on visiting Washington except for purpose initiating conversations. I nevertheless believe he would welcome invitation at later date. He denied emphatically any intention insisting on treaty revision (but he clearly has farfetched ideas on treaty interpretation). However, he was obliged to be in position when National Assembly convenes in October to present positive results. “US must make a gesture” otherwise he would appear before National Assembly only in order present his resignation as President Republic. He and wife have utterly distorted concept treaty commitments between US and Panama. Apparently their point of view revolves exclusively around letter Theodore Roosevelt to Secretary of War Taft 1904.2 They are entirely convinced commercial activities Canal Zone completely illegal.

Our conversation lasted many hours. Remon obviously regrets tone his speech March 15 but both he and wife insisted that only thus could he snatch initiative from dangerous opposition elements. Remon was complacent over having taken Harmodio Arias and Ricardo Alfaro into camp. He has now been assured by Harmodio that tendentious policy of La Hora will be immediately changed. Both he and wife were confident agitation could be controlled provided US made “gesture.”

Remon impressed me as being very stubborn and capable of going off the beam in ultranationalistic way. While I am convinced that he is basically not unfriendly, he will require most careful handling.

Wiley
  1. Ambassador Wiley provided a fuller account of his conversation with the Remóns in a letter to Mr. Sowash dated Apr. 10, 1953 (611.19/4–1053).
  2. Apparent reference to President Roosevelt’s letter to Secretary Taft, Oct. 18, 1904; it is printed in Elting M. Morison (ed.), The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt. 8 vols. (Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1951–1954), vol. 4, pp. 985–986.