PM–45. Memorandum from the Acting Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- Recommendation Against Release of Text of CP–60–108, “Isthmian Canal Plans—1960”
With reference to Secretary Brucker’s recommendation at the cabinet meeting of April 29 that favorable consideration be given to releasing the text of “Isthmian Canal Plans—1960’ and/or a related interim statement in the very near future, I recommend that, on foreign policy grounds, an embargo be placed on release of the contents of this report until a long-range Isthmian Canal policy has been formulated in the National Security Council for your review and approval. I understand that current plans call for this matter to come up in the NSC this summer.
Premature release of information contained in “Isthmian Canal Plans—1960” would greatly complicate our problems in establishing favorable preconditions to satisfactory negotiations for a new Canal at whatever location may be decided upon as a result of NSC consideration. Release of the document at this particular time would also be likely to adversely affect our posture in the nuclear test ban negotiations. Therefore, I recommend that the question of how and when this report might be released should be considered at the same time the Panama Canal paper comes before the NSC.
If you should wish, Secretary Herter or I would be happy to discuss with you in more detail the foreign policy considerations involved in this matter.2
Acting Secretary
- Source: Department of State, Rubottom-Mann Files, Lot 62 D 118, “Panama 1960.” Cabinet Paper-Privileged.↩
- According to Calhoun’s memorandum of May 6 to Secretary of State Herter, the President, in addition to approving the draft record of action of the Cabinet meeting on April 29, also accepted Acting Secretary of State Dillon’s recommendation against releasing the text of the Panama Canal Company’s report. (Presidential Cabinet Meetings, Lot 68 D 350, CP–9)↩