Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume V, Microfiche Supplement, American Republics

PM–4. Telegram from the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Panama¹

Washington, July 25, 1958, 6:13 p.m.

68. Deliver soonest following message to President de la Guardia. “The White House, Washington, July 25, 1958, His Excellency Ernesto de la Guardia, Jr., President of the Republic of Panama, Presidential Palace, Panama; Republic of Panama. I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that I have today affixed my signature to an Act² which authorizes and directs United States Government agencies in the Canal Zone to conform their employment and wage practices to the principles agreed upon and set forth in Item one of the Memorandum of Understandings Reached, attached to the Treaty of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation of 1955, between the United States and Panama. By this Act the United States completes the fulfillment of its commitments to Panama under the Treaty of 1955, so far as specific legislation may be required.

I shall issue an Executive Order³ shortly which will establish the administrative criteria by which operation of the provisions of the Act will be facilitated.

I sincerely hope that enactment of this legislation forges one more link in the long chain of friendship, cooperation and mutual respect that has traditionally bound our Governments and citizens together.⁴

Dwight D. Eisenhower”

Upon delivery above message obtain GOP concurrence simultaneous release text Washington and Panama.

Washington prefers release 10:30 a.m. EDT July 26.⁵

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 811F.061/7–2558. Niact.
2. For the text of the United States-Panama Wage and Employment Practices Act (Public Law 85–550), enacted on July 25, 1958, see 72 State 405.
3. President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10,794 on December 10, 1958. For the text, see 23 Federal Register 9627.
4. On August 13, 1958, Fisher Howe, the Director of the Executive Secretariat, sent a memorandum to Brig. Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster, the President’s Staff Secretary, informing him that Panamanian Ambassador Arias on August 5 had handed Under Secretary of State Christian A. Herter a telegraphic message from President de la Guardia for President Eisenhower that was in response to the President’s telegraphic message of July 25. Howe also indicated that he was transmitting the original of the message as received from Ambassador Arias and an official translation as enclosures to his memorandum. (811F.061/8–1358) Neither enclosure is attached to the State Department’s record copy of Howe’s memorandum, but both are attached to the original sent to the White House. According to the official translation, President de la Guardia expressed his fear that the United State would enact wage standards that would, in fact, discriminate against Panamanian workers and would also pursue employment practices that would have the effect of reducing employment opportunities for Panamanian citizens. (Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers)
5. In telegram 118 from Panama City, July 25, Amb. Julian F. Harrington informed the Department of State that Panamanian Foreign Minister Miguel Moreno approved the simultaneous release of the text of the President’s message on July 26 at 10:30 a.m., EDT. (811F.061/7–2558)