Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXIX, Panama

43. Memorandum From Robert Pastor of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, May 31, 1977

SUBJECT

• National Committee for a Canal Treaty

Representative Solarz has responded to your earlier letter² expressing a greater sense of urgency that this is an idea—to set up a National Committee—whose time has arrived.³

I suggest you might want to raise this issue in your next luncheon with Secretaries Vance and Brown. As candidates for the Chairmanship of such a National Committee, I would recommend Admiral Zumwalt,⁴ Melvin Laird, or Donald Rumsfeld.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That you send the letter at Tab I.⁵

Approve______Disapprove______

2. That copies of your correspondence be forwarded to Ambassadors Bunker and Linowitz.⁶

Approve______Disapprove______

3. That you raise this subject with Secretaries Vance and Brown.⁷

Approve______Disapprove______

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Box 39, Pastor, Country, Panama, 4–6/77. Confidential. Sent for action.
2. In an April 22 letter to Solarz, Brzezinski responded to a March 30 letter in which Solarz recommended the creation of a prestigious national committee to support and legitimize the new treaty. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Box 39, Pastor, Country, Panama, 4–6/77)
3. In a May 13 letter to Brzezinski, Solarz urged the creation of a National Committee for a new treaty with Panama. (Ibid.)
4. See footnote 4, Document 14.
5. Not attached. Brzezinski checked the approve option. Brzezinski’s response, dated May 31, thanked Solarz for his letter and ideas. (Carter Library, Office of the Chief of Staff, Hamilton Jordan’s Confidential Files, Box 36, Panama Canal Treaty, 6–7/77) No classification marking.
6. Brzezinski checked the approve option. In a June 2 memorandum, Inderfurth informed Jordan that copies of Brzezinski’s correspondence with Solarz had been sent to Bunker and Linowitz. (Ibid.) In a June 17 letter to Brzezinski, Linowitz expressed his support for the committee idea and reminded Brzezinski that they had brought it up with Carter and that Linowitz had raised the idea with Vance. Linowitz concluded: “Ellsworth Bunker shares my feeling that such a committee would be highly useful and timely, and I would be pleased to discuss it with you anytime you say.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Box 39, Pastor, Country, Panama, 4–6/77)
7. Brzezinski checked the approve option and wrote: “Bring in Ham Jordan.” Inderfurth wrote: “Done. RI.” At the bottom of the memorandum, Inderfurth wrote: “Do you want Hamilton brought into this? He is also considering how—politically—to get the treaty ratified + is preparing a memo to the Pres. on this + related topics. Rick.” According to a July 9 memorandum from Aragon to Butler, Carter authorized a Citizens Committee and Aragon outlined a plan of action in response. (Carter Library, Office of the Chief of Staff, Landon Butler’s Subject Files, Box 118, Panama Canal Binder (CF, O/A, 740)) On August 8, Aragon sent a memorandum finalizing details of the Committee to Butler and Jordan. (Ibid.)