117. Telegram from the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State1
2521. Subject: Minister Boyd Comments on US-Panama Relationship.
SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Boyd has told us he will place high priority on maintaining friendly relations between Panama and the United States. He professed to be “pro-American” but also said Panama should maintain pressure on United States until satisfactory new treaty is concluded.2 Successful negotiations will, he told us, be his primary goal, realization of which will require close and cordial working relations with United States officials. From Boyd’s words and from everything others have told us concerning his attitude and approach to his new responsibilities we believe he understands the need for Panama and the United States to work together. END SUMMARY.
1. Ambassador and Embassy Political Counselor had long conversations with Foreign Minister Aquilino Boyd during small informal dinner April 7. Boyd stressed his desire to maintain close and friendly relations between Panama and the United States and hoped that he and Ambassador would stay in close communication and thereby avoid or minimize problems. His record over the years, he said, showed that he was pro-American. His public criticism of 1903 treaty relationship had been and would be necessary to assure that sufficient “heat” be generated to prevent weakening of current US efforts to negotiate a new treaty. He would do his utmost to bring treaty negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion.
2. During discussion of US political scene, Boyd expressed full understanding of US need for low profile on progress of treaty negotiations during coming months, but hoped that US officials would con[Page 314]tinue efforts to inform US public of need for a new treaty. He said he and his Ministry would continue close cooperation with Embassy in briefing US visitors and journalists. On April 6, he had spent an hour with group of 20 persons representing US National Council of Churches.
3. Boyd showed concern about Cuban activities in Africa and implications for Latin America. He asserted that GOP and US Embassy should closely monitor Cuban activities in Panama.
4. COMMENT: Boyd was very cordial in conversations. He made clear he wanted amicable relationships with US officials and with US treaty negotiators. We gained impression that he is sincere in his intention to work with United States officials toward new treaty relationship in open and cordial manner.
- Source: National Archives, RG 84, American Embassy, Panama, U.S.-Panama Relations: General, 1976, Lot 80F162. Drafted by Blacken; cleared by Gonzalez and Jorden.↩
- Aquilino Boyd was appointed Foreign Minister on April 1. In telegram 2120 from Panama City, March 25, the Embassy reported that Tack had resigned as Foreign Minister and indicated he wished for Dr. Carlos Lopez-Guevara, former Foreign Minister and adviser to the Panamanian negotiating team, to replace him. The Embassy noted that Tack’s prestige and influence in the Panamanian Government had waned and that Torrijos considered him a liability. (National Archives, RG 84, American Embassy, Panama, Panama Canal Treaty Negotiation Files, Lot 81F1, Box 126, POL 33.3–2/Canal Treaty Negotiations/General, Jan–June 1976) In a March 26 staff meeting, Kissinger asked: “I don’t think Tack is such a great loss is he?,” to which Rogers replied: “It wouldn’t seem that way.” (National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Lot 78D443, Box 9, Secretary’s Staff Meeting, March 26, 1976)↩