Office of the Historian

611.19/11–1054

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Ambassador in Panama (Chapin), Temporarily in Washington1

confidential
[Washington,] November 10, 1954.

Subject:

  • Dr. Harmodio Arias’ Call On the Secretary
  • Participants: Dr. Harmodio Arias, Special Representative of President of Panama
  • The Secretary
  • Assistant Secretary Holland
  • Ambassador Selden Chapin

After an exchange of civilities, Dr. Arias stated he had delivered to President Eisenhower that morning a letter from President Remon in reply to one received last August from President Eisenhower. Dr. Arias said that the points remaining at issue in the draft of the proposed treaty and accompanying memorandum of understanding boiled down to seven of which only one was in the treaty draft. He felt that there was no essential difference in substance between the United States and Panama proposals, but rather a matter of wording. Panama simply could not accept certain provisions as worded in the United States draft.

The Secretary replied that he himself was of course not familiar with all the details, but confessed his disappointment if the whole subject were to be reopened as he had felt that negotiations had really terminated last August and that the United States proposals were eminently fair. We had gone a long way to meet Panamanian aspirations. He knew Dr. Arias was eager to return to his law practice in Panama, but suggested that a meeting be held between Mr. Holland and Mr. Chapin and Dr. Arias to see if points of disagreement could be worked out.

Mr. Holland said he was anxious to hear Dr. Arias’ point of view, but that as the latter knew he had to leave town for the rest of the week, but would be back Saturday night. In view of the urgency of the matter and the fact he himself must leave for the Rio meeting in about a week’s time, he suggested a meeting on Sunday morning unless Dr. Arias preferred to put off the matter until after the Rio conference. Dr. Arias accepted the offer to meet Sunday with alacrity. Later after leaving the office, Dr. Arias expressed to Mr. Chapin his doubts whether points of difference could be settled in one or even two meetings, but said it was worth while to make the effort.

  1. Ambassador Chapin was in the United States for consultation and leave, Nov. 9–19, 1954.↩