Office of the Historian

33. Memorandum From the Vice Director of the Joint Staff (Colladay) to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger1

JCSM–46–74
Washington, February 13, 1974.

SUBJECT

  • Strategic Importance of the Panama Canal (U)

1. (U) Reference is made to a memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs), I–154/74, dated 8 January 1974, subject as above.2

2. (S) As requested by the reference, a classified study on the military strategic importance of the Panama Canal, which includes treatment of specific topics, is contained in the Appendix hereto.3 The study concludes:

a. That the Panama Canal is a major defense asset, the use of which is necessary to enhance US capability for timely reinforcement in Asia [Page 90] and in Europe during periods of conflict. Its strategic advantage lies in the economy and flexibility it provides to accelerate the shift of military forces and logistic support by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and to overseas areas.

b. That a lock canal or a new sea-level canal will continue to be of importance to national security.

c. Panama has the capability to threaten the Panama Canal itself, but the probability of such action is low at present.

d. A potential threat will continue to exist to the longer alternate ocean lines of communication around Africa and South America. At the present time, the Soviet Union is considered the only nation with such a capability.

3. (C) It is understood that the study is intended for use as the basis for a DODinput to the pending Interdepartmental Group (American Regional Affairs) study on this subject.4

4. (U) An unclassified version for possible public use will be forwarded at a later date.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Martin G. Colladay5
Major General, USAF Vice Director, Joint Staff
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files, FRC 330–78–0011, Panama 821 1974. Secret.↩
  2. In the January 8 memorandum to Moorer, Peet requested that the JCS produce a study on the military strategic importance of the Canal. (Ibid.)↩
  3. The study, undated, is attached but not printed.↩
  4. Not found.↩
  5. Colladay signed “MG Colladay” above this typed signature.↩