Office of the Historian

PM–2. Telegram from the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Panama1

489.
Washington, June 25, 1958, 7:05 p.m.

Cur 470.2 Inform GOP President signed appropriations bill H.R. 12540 twentyfifth3 which included bridge item of $19,250,000. This concludes appropriation entire $20 million for construction bridge which is to remain available until expended and fulfills United States treaty [Typeset Page 882] commitment this respect.4 Department releasing appropriate statement to press.5 Assume USIS will publicize.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 911F.7301/6–1758. Priority. Drafted by William E. Price of the Office of Middle American Affairs and initialled by Herbert B. Leggett, Officer in Charge of Central America and Panama Affairs.↩
  2. Not printed; 911F.7301/6–1758.↩
  3. For the text of the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriation Act of 1959 (Public Law 85–469), enacted on June 25, 1958, see 72 State 276.↩
  4. Under the terms of the Treaty of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation and Memorandum of Understandings Reached, which representatives of the United States and the Republic of Panama signed on January 25, 1955, the United States agreed to seek the legislative authorization and the necessary appropriations for construction of a bridge over the Pacific end of the Panama Canal at Balboa, Canal Zone. For the text of both the Treaty and the accompanying memorandum, see United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST), vol. 6 (pt. 2), p. 2733.↩
  5. For the text of the Department of State press release announcing the enactment of this legislation, see the Department of State Bulletin, July 14, 1958, p. 68.↩