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

PM–49. Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, Prepared in the Office of the Secretary of State¹

Washington, August 9, 1960

MEMORANDUM OF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT

The President telephoned and said normally he never sends any message to the Secretary by one of his Ambassadors, but the President said he had just been talking to our new Ambassador to Panama² about the problems still there and that Ambassador Farland brought up something the President never knew, i.e. he said that Harrington started the custom of flying our flag only 37 days a year over our Embassy. The President said he told Farland that with Harrington gone, a new President, the Governor gone and Gaither gone, maybe this would be a good time to make a little arrangement, beginning on such and such a date, to start the custom of flying the flag all the time over our Embassy and to fly both the American and the Panamanian flags from poles of equal height at the Headquarters of the Panama Canal Zone to demonstrate our recognition that residual sovereignty rests with Panama. The President said he told Farland to ask the Secretary to look this idea over to see if the Secretary thinks it is a good thing, and if the Secretary does think it is good, he could check with the Army and then the Secretary could put out a directive or the President could, he didn’t care which. The President said perhaps we could just make it the day after Congress which would keep Flood from going crazy. The Secretary said Flood is threatening all sorts of things; The President said Farland might, although we don’t have the authority, make the proposal to the new President and see if it couldn’t be worked out so this could be accomplished—not announce it, but just see if we can just do it. The Secretary said he would give this the most careful consideration.

The Secretary then said he hoped the President had liked Ambassador Farland, and the President said he did; that he had met him before. The Secretary said he has done so well that we hope he will permanently join the ranks of the Foreign Service.

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers, Telephone Conversations. The conversation began at 12:10 p.m.
2. Harrington was Ambassador to Panama until July 14, 1960. Joseph S. Farland was appointed Ambassador on June 24 and presented his credentials in Panama City on August 29.