78. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Vance’s Delegation in Israel1
187106. Tosec 80213. For the Secretary From Christopher. Subject: Panama Canal Activity.
1. The President sent the following message to members of Congress by domestic telegram Sunday evening, August 7.
2. Begin quote: Today Ambassadors Bunker and Linowitz returned to Panama and it appears that negotiations for a new treaty may be concluded very soon. I believe you will be gratified by the result and believe the public will find we have achieved much more than had [Page 245] been expected. I expect to be able to announce conceptual agreement shortly, and pledge my best effort to show the public that the treaty will advance our legitimate national security interests. I hope you can support the treaty. In any case, I urge you to reserve judgment on it until you have an opportunity to read the treaty, discuss with our negotiators, and examine it in great detail. Once you have, I am confident you will agree with me that the treaty will provide the best defense for the canal and lead to improved relations with Panama, all of Latin America and the Caribbean. Signed Jimmy Carter. End quote.
3. Additionally, a cable was sent to those Senators, identified by H, who have indicated support of a new treaty. That cable reads:
4. Begin quote: Today Ambassadors Linowitz and Bunker returned to Panama and it appears that negotiations for a new treaty may be concluded very soon. I believe you will be gratified by the result, and believe that the public will find we have achieved much more than had been expected. I expect to be able to announce conceptual agreement shortly, and pledge my best effort to show the public that the treaty will advance our legitimate national security interests. Your support of my efforts to seek an equitable treaty has been gratifying. Your continued support will be essential to achieve congressional approval of this historic treaty which I believe will provide the best defense for the canal and will lead to improved relations with Panama, all of Latin America and the Caribbean. Signed Jimmy Carter. End quote. (Both telegrams were drafted and distributed by H.)
[Omitted here is an action plan for the Panama Canal announcement procedures and a copy of the telegram forwarded to the White House.]
- 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.↩