Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

552. Letter From President Nixon to the Special Representative for Inter-Oceanic Canal Negotiations (Anderson)¹ ²

Washington, July 27, 1971

Dear Bob:

Thank you for your letter of July 9 which I have now carefully reviewed, along with the views of the Departments of State and Defense. I fully understand the pressures you are under from your opposite numbers on the Panamanian side, and also the lateness of the hour if a draft treaty is to be concluded this year. However, I would like to have additional information on Congressional attitudes and the firmness of the Panamanian position before deciding whether we should continue to press for an open-ended treaty arrangement, or whether we should indicate at this time that we are willing in principle to accept a fixed term treaty.

Hence I would like you—in coordination with the Departments of State and Defense—to undertake consultations with the Senate in order to determine the acceptability of a fixed term treaty which also meets the main Panamanian aspirations in other areas, especially jurisdiction in the present Canal Zone.

I am also asking the Department of State to undertake soundings and representations with General Torrijos, President Lakas, and other officials of the Panamanian Government through our Ambassador in Panama. These discussions are designed to explore and test the firmness of the Panamanian position on the duration issue as well as to explain to them its relationship to the jurisdiction question and to ratification by the Senate.

When your consultations with the Senate and the State Department’s soundings in Panama are concluded, you should then promptly give me your final conclusions and recommendations. Since I also expect the Departments of State and Defense to submit their views promptly, I hope it will be possible to resolve this question within two weeks. In the meantime, I leave it to your discretion whether or not to continue conversations with the Panamanian negotiators on other aspects of the treaty, or whether to seek a formal or informal suspension of the talks.

I have noted the State Department view that we should not link the arrangements covering the present lock canal with those covering the eventual construction of a sea level canal in such a way that we might be forced to build a sea level canal in order to retain control of the trans-isthmian waterway. It would be useful if in the course of your consultations, you could obtain Congressional views concerning this question.

I appreciate your timely action in writing to keep me informed of the progress of the talks and trust we can move ahead quickly once the question of our position has been resolved.

Sincerely,

RN

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL PAN–US. Secret. The July 9 letter from Anderson to Nixon has not been found.
2. President Nixon informed Anderson that, before the U.S. negotiators agreed to accept fixed-term treaties, he was to consult with the Senate on the acceptability such treaties. Nixon also stated that he would ask the Department of State to explore the Panamanian position on duration.