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

85. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, August 24, 1977, 4:05 p.m.

SUBJECT

• PANAMA CANAL TREATY: TELEPHONE CALL FROM PRESIDENT CARTER TO GENERAL OMAR TORRIJOS

PARTICIPANTS

• The United States

  • The President

• Panama

  • General Omar Torrijos, Head of State

THE PRESIDENT: We are very eager to have the treaty ratified by the Senate. It would help very much, if you and I, under the auspices of the OAS, invited the Heads of State of the continent to witness the treaty signing ceremonies.

Torrijos: I agree. I am ready to cooperate in any manner that is necessary to insure that the treaty is ratified as soon as possible. There is a problem however. It is my feeling that if the OAS were to issue the invitations, fewer Presidents would be likely to attend the signing ceremonies than if it were the White House that would extend the invitations.

THE PRESIDENT: General, I am interested in having as many Presidents as possible from Central and South America. If you and I jointly extend an invitation and follow it up with personal messages to the Heads of State I think we would achieve the greatest participation. I am planning to meet first with you regarding the treaty and how it effects us and also how it effects you in Panama. Then I also want to meet with the leaders of the other countries.² It would consist of two steps: first, a formal invitation extended together by you and me, and, second, personal invitations to the Heads of State that we would individually extend. For example, we would be needing your help in encouraging Lopez Portillo of Mexico to attend.³

Torrijos: Now it is clear to me what you propose to do. I think it is an excellent idea. I know that between both of us we will get the largest number of Presidents of Latin America to attend. It is important though that while the rest of them decide on coming, that the first statements to the press be made in the sense that a number of Presidents have already been contacted and they have assured us they will attend. Then we would see what the other Presidents would do because it would be in their own interests to communicate their decisions.

THE PRESIDENT: Very good. I think it would be advantageous if we were to keep expectations low regarding the number that would attend so that the public would be more surprised at the number in attendance. I am sure that if we stated that twenty Presidents were to come, and only 14 showed up in Washington, D.C., the next day the headlines would read: SIX PRESIDENTS REFUSE TO GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. On the other hand, if the expectations are kept low, and 14 Presidents and 6 Foreign Ministers attend the ceremonies, the press and media would focus on that in a positive manner. Therefore, I feel that public statements should be of such a nature as to maintain expectations low, so that with the large number in attendance, public opinion would be favorably impressed.

Torrijos: I completely agree with you. I believe that there is a political feeling in Latin America, and it might be the case with you also, whereby the number of Presidents attending might be thought of in terms of the goals scored in a soccer match. It will be good to keep expectations low in statements to the press. I do have a question though. That is, how many have already confirmed their acceptances?

THE PRESIDENT: First, let me say that I do not know yet. I believe about six have already made definite plans. However, they have been somewhat hesitant because the formal invitations have not been extended yet, and no official date has been set yet. However, now that you and I have agreed, I will undertake to make a maximum effort to contact directly the Presidents inviting them to witness the ceremony of the signing of the treaty, as well as to come to Washington to conduct other business. We are also preparing a banquet at the White House on the 7th of September, after the signing of the treaty, which I believe will provide a delightful end to that day. During the two days thereafter, we will have a chance to follow up in our talks with the various Heads of State present. At this point, I think we have good indications that eight Heads of State will be coming.⁴ We will keep your Ambassador informed of the responses we get, and you could do the same with our Ambassador regarding those leaders that you talk to who indicate that they will be attending the treaty signature.

Torrijos: Fine. I think it is important that you make a statement in the sense that certain leaders, without specifying their numbers, have been invited and will attend, and that you announce the date. I have a suggestion to make also. That we invite Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau enjoys great popularity in Latin America.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it would be a great pleasure to do so. He also enjoys great popularity in the United States, and I believe he should be included. We feel that this is so important that it be publicized throughout the country to the people that we are planning to have the ceremony covered on live television in our country. We have not approached the networks yet, but the possibility exists. I would like to know whether you would have any objection to this?

Torrijos: Absolutely no objection. The moment is of great significance for the Americas, and I think it would be very advantageous to provide for TV coverage throughout the Continent.

THE PRESIDENT: I would like to suggest that some key White House staffers go to Panama with your Ambassador to arrange the details with you.

Torrijos: That would be fine.

THE PRESIDENT: To conclude, I want to tell you that I greatly appreciate the spirit of cooperation that has been shown by your Negotiators and by you. My wife and I are looking forward to your visit to the White House. Rosalynn was delighted with the complimentary remarks that you made while she was on her trip of Central and South America.

Torrijos: Thank you, President Carter. I want to tell you that you have shown great moral courage by the way you have faced the problems at hand. It was only with great moral courage that our ends could be achieved.

THE PRESIDENT: I am proud of the progress we have made. There are a number of things that you and the leaders of Latin America can do to help us, and we are also eager to help you get your people to approve the treaty. I hope your visit will allow us to establish ties of personal friendship and understanding that will assure the approval in the Senate and by the people of Panama. It is very important that our citizens know that you and I have consulted and are ready to cooperate in the future.

Torrijos: I agree. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Conversation ended at 4:30 pm.

1. 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).
2. Carter met with Torrijos on the morning of September 6. See Document 94. In addition to Torrijos, Carter met with some of the leaders of the nations attending the signing ceremonies from September 6–9. For Carter’s remarks to reporters after these bilateral meetings, see the Department of State Bulletin, October 17, 1977, pp. 510–519. Memoranda of conversation of the meetings with Romero, Melgar, and Oduber are scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XV, Central America. Memoranda of conversation of the meetings with Bermudez, Stroessner, Lopez, Pinochet, Perez, Poveda, Banzer, Videla, and Mendez are scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations 1977–1980, vol. XXIV, South America; Latin America Regional, 1977–1980. The memorandum of conversation of the meeting with Balaguer is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XXIII, Mexico, Cuba, and the Caribbean.
3. Lopez Portillo did not attend the signing ceremonies in Washington. In telegram 15000 from Mexico City, September 7, the Embassy reported: “It now seems clear that Mexico does not want to associate itself publicly in any way with the neutrality agreement which has been publicly interpreted by U.S. officials as giving the USG the right to militarily intervene in Panama at any time after the year 2000 should the agreed-upon rules of neutrality be violated.” Lopez Portillo was apparently reluctant to publicly associate Mexico with a neutrality agreement that he “interprets as a clear violation of the principle of non-intervention.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D770324–0780)
4. Leaders from 27 nations in the Western Hemisphere, including 20 heads of state, arrived for the September 7 signing ceremony and related events.