51. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Panama1
174065. Subject: Secretarial Message. For Ambassadors Bunker and Jorden from the Secretary.
1. Please deliver following message from the Secretary to Foreign Minister Tack as soon as possible:
2. Begin text: Dear Tony: By the time you receive this letter you will already have learned of the change which is taking place in our Presidency.2 In the light of these events I wanted to assure you forthwith that this will not affect in any way the negotiation which we have begun to draft a new, modern treaty governing the Panama Canal.
3. President Ford has asked me to continue as Secretary of State and I have told him that I would be honored to do so. One of my highest priorities as I continue in my responsibilities will be to press ahead with the negotiations in order to conclude a new treaty promptly.
[Page 145]4. I would appreciate your conveying the substance of this message also to President Lakas and General Torrijos so that they also will have no doubts whatsoever about our continued adherence to our commitment.3 Warmest regards. Henry. End text.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740218–0840. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Drafted by Bowdler and Kubisch; cleared by Sisco and in S/S; approved by Kissinger.↩
- President Nixon resigned on August 8.↩
- In telegram 4628 from Panama City, August 9, the Embassy reported that Bunker delivered the message to Tack. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D740219–0112)↩