Negotiation and Signing of the Panama Canal Treaties, October 6, 1976–September 9, 1977


61. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject Files, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 7/77. Secret.


62. Letter From President Carter to Senator Thurmond

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Box 39, Pastor, Country, Panama, 7/77. No classification marking. Identical letters were sent to Senators Byrd, Helms, and McClellan on July 20. (Ibid.) In a July 20 covering memorandum forwarding the letters to Carter for his signature, Brzezinski explained the Department was preparing a “more detailed and specific set of counterarguments to specific points raised in the letter to you.” (Ibid.)


63. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Secret. Sent for action. Dodson wrote: “Mrs. Dodson’s ofc notified per Rick Inderfurth 7/21” on the memorandum, which was initialed by Carter.


64. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations (Bennet) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P770138–2209. Unclassified. A stamped notation and his written initials indicate Vance saw the memorandum.


65. Minutes of a Policy Review Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Secret. The meeting was held in the White House Situation Room. All brackets are in the original except those indicating text that remains classified.


66. Intelligence Information Cable Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Secret; Priority; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon. Sent to the Departments of State and Treasury, and to SDO, D/CRG, DCI, NSC, D/ORPA, and WHSITRM. All brackets except those that indicate omitted text are in the original.


67. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Official and Personal Files of Ambassador at Large Ellsworth Bunker, Lot 78D300, Box 4, Panama Key Documents, 1977. Secret.


68. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Secret. Sent for action. According to a July 25 memorandum from Pastor to Brzezinski, the memorandum was hand carried to Carter on July 26. (Ibid.)


69. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum.


70. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Secret. Sent for action. Carter initialed the memorandum.


71. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Box 38, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron, Panama, 6–9/77. Secret. The first meeting took place in the Oval Office, and the second meeting took place in the Cabinet room at the White House.


72. Letter From President Carter to General Torrijos

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box 63, PRC 027 Panama 7/22/77. Unclassified. In telegram 5463 from Panama City, July 30, the Embassy reported that Royo and Escobar held a press conference at Torrijos’s home on July 29 during which they distributed copies of the letter to the press, gave a detailed account of the July 29 meeting with Carter (see Document 71), and answered questions. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770274–0316)


73. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 8/77. Secret. Carter initialed the top of the memorandum and wrote: “[name not declassified],” next to his initials.


74. Memorandum From Vice President Mondale to the Assistant to the President (Jordan)

Source: Carter Library, Office of the Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan’s Confidential Files, Box 36, Panama Canal Treaty, 8/77 (1). Confidential. Sent for information.


75. Memorandum From Ambassador at Large (Bunker) and Panama Canal Treaty Co-Negotiator (Linowitz) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 61, Panama: Canal Treaty of 1977, 8/77. Secret.


76. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President (Jordan) and William Hyland of the National Security Council Staff to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Plains Files, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 3, Panama Canal, 8/77. Secret.


77. Memorandum From the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Smith) to the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Holcomb)

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files, FRC: 330–80–0017, Panama 821(16 July-Aug 1977). No classification marking. In an August 8 covering memorandum forwarding this memorandum to Dodson, Holcomb mentioned she had requested the statement of the views of the JCS on the treaty earlier that day and indicated the memorandum was “signed by the Chairman’s assistant, in General Brown’s absence, after checking with the Chiefs.” (Ibid.)


78. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Vance’s Delegation in Israel

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840072–1286. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Beckel, cleared by Thyden, and approved by Christopher. All brackets except those that indicate omitted text are in the original. From August 7–9 Vance was in Taif, reviewing the Middle East peace process with King Khalid and other senior Saudi officials. From August 9–11, Vance was in Jerusalem, reviewing the Middle East peace process with Prime Minister Begin and Foreign Minister Dayan.


79. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President (Jordan) and William Hyland of the National Security Council Staff to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Plains Files, President’s Personal Foreign Affairs File, Box 3, Panama Canal, 8/77. Confidential.


80. Telegram From the Embassy in Panama to the Department of State and the White House

Source: Department of State, American Embassy Panama, Panama Canal Treaty Negotiation Files, Lot 81F1, 1964–1977, Box 127, POL 33.3.2. Confidential; Niact Immediate; Exdis. Copies were sent to the White House. Drafted by William T. Pryce (S/AB), cleared by Moss (S/AB) and Wyrough (ARA), and approved by Gonzalez.


81. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Vance’s Delegation in England

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Official and Personal Files of Ambassador at Large Ellsworth Bunker, Lot 78D300, Box 1, Negotiating Round, 8/7–11/77. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Brizill, cleared by Tarnoff, and approved by Christopher. Vance was in London August 11–13 discussing Rhodesia with British Foreign Secretary Owen.


82. Letter From President Carter to the Members of the United States Congress

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Official and Personal Files of Ambassador at Large Ellsworth Bunker, Lot 78D300, Box 4, Panama Key Documents 1977. No classification marking.


83. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 8/77. Secret. Carter initialed the top of the memorandum.


84. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Box 38, Brzezinski Office File Country Chron, Panama, 6–9/77. Confidential. Sent for action. Forwarded to Tarnoff under an August 19 covering memorandum from Dodson. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 61, Panama: Canal Treaty of 1977, 8/77)


85. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, Office of the Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan’s Confidential Files, Box 36, Panama Canal Treaty, 8/77 (1). No classification marking. The conversation took place over the telephone in the Oval Office from 4:05 to 4:30 p.m. Drafted by Anthony J. Hervas (OPR/LS).


86. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 8/77. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum and wrote: “[name not declassified].” Vance was in Peking August 20–26 meeting with Chairman Hua, Foreign Minister Huang, and other senior Chinese officials.


87. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Linowitz Papers, Box CL–1, Government Service, Pan. Canal Treaties, Reagan, Ronald, 1977, Aug. Confidential. Drafted by Carl Davis (ARA/PAN) on August 26.


88. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Christopher to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 8/77. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum. Vance was in Peking August 20–26 meeting with Chairman Hua, Foreign Minister Huang, and other senior Chinese officials. August 26–27, Vance met with Prime Minister Fukuda and Foreign Minister Hatoyama in Tokyo.


89. Minutes of a Cabinet Meeting

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 80M00165A, Box 23, Folder 3: 468. No classification marking. The meeting ended at 10:54 a.m.


90. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Plains Files, Subject File, Box 12, State Department Evening Reports, 8/77. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum and wrote: “Cy.”