Panama, 1973–1976


1. Telegram From the Embassy in Venezuela to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1114, NSC Unfiled Material, 1/15/73. Secret; Immediate. Repeated Immediate for information to Panama City and USCINCSO.


2. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Meyer) to Secretary of State Rogers

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 33–3 CZ. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Hurwitch on January 15.


3. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1335, NSC Unfiled Material, 1973 [9 of 12]. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.


4. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 791, Country Files, Latin America, Panama, Vol. 3, January 1972–August 1974. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Kissinger wrote on the first page of the memorandum, “Good work Bill,” and initialed.


5. Letter From the Special Representative for Interoceanic Canal Negotiations (Anderson) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 1, Nixon-Anderson Correspondence. Confidential.


6. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 791, Country Files, Latin America, Panama, Vol. 3, January 1972–August 1974. Secret; Immediate; Nodis.


7. Memorandum From William J. Jorden of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 791, Country Files, Latin America, Panama, Vol. 3, January 1972–August 1974. Confidential. Sent for information.


8. Letter From the Ambassador to Panama (Sayre) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Rush)

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL PAN–US. Secret; Exdis.


9. Backchannel Message From the Governor of the Panama Canal Zone (Parker) to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Army (Koren)

Source: National Archives, RG 185, Subject Files of 1979 Panama Canal Treaty Planning Group, Box 5, Msgs Jan–June 1973. Secret; Eyes Only; Priority for Transmission; Deliver During First Duty Hours. A handwritten note on the message reads: “Msg received by Mr. Koren at 11:58—4/11/73.”


10. Telegram From Secretary of State Rogers to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, ORG 7 S. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated to Panama City, USCINCOSouth, and Curacao. Rogers was in Buenos Aires May 23–26 to attend the inauguration of President Campora.


11. Memorandum From the Ambassador to Panama (Sayre) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch)

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Panama Treaties, Lot 75D457, Congressional Correspondence (Letters). Confidential.


12. Letter From the Special Representative for Interoceanic Canal Negotiations (Anderson) to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 1, Nixon-Anderson Correspondence. No classification marking.


13. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch) to Secretary of State Rogers

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL PAN–US. Confidential. Drafted by Hurwitch and Bell; cleared by Koren, Ward, and in L/ARA. Sent through Rush. In the upper right-hand margin, Rogers wrote: “I’ll speak to Mr. Kubisch about this. The letter should refer to a new negotiating team with Ellsworth Bunker in charge. WPM.”


14. Intelligence Note Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Intelligence Research Reports, Lot 06D379, Box 23, RAAN 1–24, Africa/American Republics 1973. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem; No Dissem Abroad. Drafted in INR/DRR/RAA; released by George C. Denney in INR.


15. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, [no film number]. Confidential. Repeated to Panama City.


16. Letter From Secretary of State Rogers to Panamanian Foreign Minister Tack

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 33–3 PAN. No classification marking. Drafted by Shlaudeman and Bell. The letter was transmitted in telegram 156307 to Panama City, August 8. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–1802) In telegram 4206 from Panama City, August 8, the Embassy reported that Tack had received the letter. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–1805)


17. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–1808. Confidential; Priority; Nodis; Stadis.


18. Memorandum From the Special Representative for Panama Canal Treaty Negotiations (Ward) to Ambassador at Large Bunker

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 3, General. Secret.


19. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch) to the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Rush)

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Subject and Country Files, 1969–75, Lot 76D110, Panama, POL, Treaty Negotiations, 1973. Secret. Drafted by Bell and ARA/PAN Deputy Director Patrick F. Morris.


20. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 3, General. Confidential. Drafted by Bell and Storey. Copies were sent to Bell and Sheffey. The meeting was held in Ambassador Bunker’s office at the Department of State.


21. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 791, Country Files, Latin America, Panama, Vol. 3, January 1972–August 1974. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Bell; cleared by Kubisch; approved in S. The meeting was held in the Waldorf Towers. Kissinger, who became Secretary of State on September 22, was attending the U.N. General Assembly session.


22. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 3, Congress. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Bell. The meeting took place is Fascell’s office.


23. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 3, Congress. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Bell. The meeting took place in Humphrey’s office.


24. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840114–1819. Confidential; Nodis.


25. Memorandum From the Deputy U.S. Negotiator (Bell) to Ambassador at Large Bunker

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Ambassador Bunker’s Correspondence, Lot 78D300, Box 3, DOA–DOD, Liaison With. Confidential; Stadis; Nodis.


26. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Rush)

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL PAN–US. Secret. Drafted by Howard.


27. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Mission in Geneva and the Department of State

Source: National Archives, RG 84, American Embassy, Panama, Panama Canal Treaty Negotiation Files, Lot 81F1, Box 124, Treaty Negotiations, 1973. Secret; Immediate. Drafted and approved by Bell. Repeated to Governor Parker, USCINCSO, and USUN. Kissinger was en route to Geneva to attend the Middle East Peace Conference.


28. Memorandum From Secretary of State Kissinger to President Nixon

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–266, Under Secretaries Committee Memorandum Files, Under Secretaries Study Committee U/SM 136 [1 of 3]. Secret. Sent for action. A stamped notation on the first page reads: “The President has seen.”


29. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 791, Country Files, Latin America, Panama, Vol. 3, January 1972–August 1974. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Repeated Priority to Governor Parker, USCINCSO, USUN, and the Mission in Geneva.


30. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Kubisch) to Secretary of State Kissinger

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P820043–1526. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Bell and Bowdler; concurred in in L and H. Kissinger wrote in the right margin: “Redo Pres. memo to give him summary of principles.” Another note in an unknown hand indicates the memorandum was redone on January 26.