47. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter 1

[Omitted here is information unrelated to Panama.]

3. Panama Canal Negotiations: Panama has informed us that its delegation is returning to Washington late June 7 to resume this round of negotiations. Ambassadors Bunker and Linowitz plan to meet with the Panamanians commencing June 8.

You may have noted press reports concerning demonstrations in Panama June 6.2 Demonstrators took down an American flag which was flying jointly with a Panamanian flag near the Canal Zone-Panama border. The flag was subsequently turned over to our authorities by the Panamanian National Guard which had moved in briskly. No injuries or damage occurred.3 A second smaller demonstration that evening at the Embassy was peaceful.4 Both demonstrations protested Panama’s high cost of living and commemorated the 1966 shooting of a Panamanian student.

Before I left for CIEC,5 you made a number of marginal comments in my evening report concerning the Canal talks.6 I will provide answers to these by the end of the week in connection with outlining the tentative agreements which have been reached to date.7

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 18, Evening Reports (State), 6/77. Secret. Carter initialed the memorandum and wrote: “To Cy.”
  2. Presumably a reference to June 6 Associated Press report printed in the New York Times, June 7, 1977, p. 8.
  3. In telegram 4070 from Panama City, June 6, the Embassy summarized the events of this demonstration. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770201–0763)
  4. In telegram 4084 from Panama City, June 7, the Embassy summarized the events of this demonstration. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770202–1059)
  5. Vance attended the Conference on International Economic Development in Paris from May 28 to June 2.
  6. See Document 42.
  7. Carter wrote in the left margin: “Ok—There is no way we can make high payments.”