Page images
PDF
EPUB

APPENDIX F

TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA 1

(Signed at Washington, March 2, 1936; ratified by Panama 2 July 17, 1939; ratification advised by United States Senate, July 25, 1939; ratified by the President, July 26, 1939; ratification exchanged at Washington, July 27, 1939; proclaimed by President Roosevelt, July 27, 1939.)

ARTICLES

I. Basis of friendship and cooperation.

II. Additional lands and waters.

III. Commerce in the Canal Zone.

IV. Tax exemptions.

V. Jurisdiction over port facilities, immigration, and customs.

VI. Article VII of 1903 treaty revised.

VII. Annuity payments adjusted.

VIII. Colon Corridor.

IX. Madden Dam Corridor.

X. Emergency defense measures.

XI. Reservations under previous treaties.

XII. Ratification.

The United States of America and the Republic of Panama, animated by the desire to strengthen further the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and to regulate on a stable and mutually satisfactory basis certain questions which have arisen as a result of the construction of the interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama, have decided to conclude a treaty, and have designated for this purpose as their Plenipotentiaries:

The President of the United States of America:

Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State of the United States of America, and Mr. Sumner Welles, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America; and The President of the Republic of Panama:

The Honorable Doctor Ricardo J. Alfaro, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Panama to the United States of America, and the Honorable Doctor Narciso Garay, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Panama on special mission;

Who, having communicated their respective full powers to each other, which have been found to be in good and due form, have agreed upon the following:

ARTICLE I

Article I of the Convention of November 18, 1903, is hereby superseded. There shall be a perfect, firm, and inviolable peace and sincere friendship between the United States of America and the Republic of Panama and between their citizens.

In view of the official and formal opening of the Panama Canal on July 12, 1920, the United States of America and the Republic of Panama declare that the provisions of the Convention of November 18, 1903, contemplate the use, occupation, and control by the United States of America of the Canal Zone and of the additional lands and waters under the jurisdiction of the United States of America for the purpose of the efficient maintenance, operation, sanitation, and protection of the Canal and of its auxiliary works.

The United States of America will continue the maintenance of the Panama Canal for the encouragement and use of interoceanic commerce, and the two Governments declare their willingness to cooperate, as far as it is feasible for them to do so, for the purpose of insuring the full and perpetual enjoyment of the benefits of all kinds which the Canal should afford the two nations that made possible its construction as well as nations interested in world trade.

ARTICLE II

The United States of America declares that the Republic of Panama has loyally and satisfactorily complied with the obligations which it entered into under Article II of the Convention of November 18, 1903, by which it granted

1 Manuscript, United States Department of State, Archives, Treaty Series, No. 945. Also S. Ex. Rept. No. 5 (76th Cong., 1st sess.).

2 On December 24, 1936, the President of Panama signed the Decree Law approving the General Treaty of March 2, 1936, and authorizing him to sign its ratification in behalf of Panama. This he did on July 17, 1939.

in perpetuity to the United States the use, occupation, and control of the zone of land and land under water as described in the said Article, of the islands within the limits of said zone, of the group of small islands in the Bay of Panama, named Perico, Naos, Culebra, and Flamenco, and of any other lands and waters outside of said zone necessary and convenient for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation, and protection of the Panama Canal or of any auxiliary canals or other works, and in recognition thereof the United States of America hereby renounces the grant made to it in perpetuity by the Republic of Panama of the use, occupation, and control of lands and waters, in addition to those now under the jurisdiction of the United States of America outside of the zone as described in Article II of the aforesaid Convention, which may be necessary and convenient for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation, and protection of the Panama Canal or of any auxiliary canals or other works necessary and convenient for the construction, maintenance, operation, sanitation, and protection of the said enterprise.

While both Governments agree that the requirement of further lands and waters for the enlargement of the existing facilities of the Canal appears to be improbable, they nevertheless recognize, subject to the provisions of Articles I and X of this Treaty, their joint obligation to insure the effective and continuous operation of the Canal and the preservation of its neutrality, and consequently, if, in the event of some now unforeseen contingency, the utilization of land or waters additional to those already employed should be in fact necessary for the maintenance, sanitation, or efficient operation of the Canal, or for its effective protection, the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Panama will agree upon such measures as it may be necessary to take in order to insure the maintenance, sanitation, efficient operation, and effective protection of the Canal, in which the two countries are jointly and vitally interested.

ARTICLE III

In order to enable the Republic of Panama to take advantage of the commercial opportunities inherent in its geographical situation, the United States of America agrees as follows:

(1) The sale to individuals of goods imported into the Canal Zone or purchased, produced, or manufactured therein by the Government of the United States of America shall be limited by it to the persons included in classes (a) and (b) of Section 2 of this Article; and with regard to the persons included in classes (c), (d), and (e) of the said Section and members of their families, the sales above mentioned shall be made only when such persons actually reside in the Canal Zone. (2) No person who is not comprised within the following classes shall be entitled to reside within the Canal Zone:

(a) Officers, employees, workmen, or laborers in the service or employ of the United States of America, the Panama Canal, or the Panama Railroad Company, and members of their families actually residing with them;

(b) Members of the armed forces of the United States of America and members of their families actually residing with them;

(c) Contractors operating in the Canal Zone and their employees, workmen, and laborers during the performance of contracts;

(d) Officers, employees, or workmen of companies entitled under Section 5 of this Article to conduct operations in the Canal Zone;

(e) Persons engaged in religious, welfare, charitable, educational, recreational, and scientific work exclusively in the Canal Zone;

(f) Domestic servants of all the beforementioned persons and members of the families of the persons in classes (c), (d), and (e) actually residing with them.

(3) No dwellings belonging to the Government of the United States of America or to the Panama Railroad Company and situated within the Canal Zone shall be rented, leased, or sublet except to persons within classes (a) to (e), inclusive of Section 2 hereinabove.

(4) The Government of the United States of America will continue to cooperate in all proper ways with the Government of the Republic of Panama to prevent violations of the immigration and customs laws of the Republic of Panama, including the smuggling into territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of goods imported into the Canal Zone or purchased, produced, or manufactured therein by the Government of the United States of America.

(5) With the exception of concerns having a direct relation to the operation, maintenance, sanitation, or protection of the Canal, such as those engaged in the operation of cables, shipping, or dealing in oil or fuel, the Government of the United States of America will not permit the establishment in the Canal Zone

of private business enterprises other than those existing therein at the time of the signature of this Treaty.

(6) In view of the proximity of the port of Balboa to the city of Panama and the port of Cristobal to the city of Colon, the United States of America will continue to permit, under suitable regulations and upon the payment of proper charges, vessels entering at or clearing from the ports of the Canal Zone to use and enjoy the dockage and other facilities of the said ports for the purpose of loading and unloading cargoes and receiving or disembarking passengers to or from the territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama.

The Republic of Panama will permit vessels entering at or clearing from the ports of Panama or Colon, in case of emergency and also under suitable regulations and upon payment of proper charges, to use and enjoy the dockage and other facilities of said ports for the purpose of receiving or disembarking passengers to or from the territory of the Republic of Panama under the jurisdiction of the United States of America, and of loading and unloading cargoes either in transit or destined for the service of the Canal or of works pertaining to the Canal.

(7) The Government of the United States of America will extend to private merchants residing in the Republic of Panama full opportunity for making sales to vessels arriving at terminal ports of the Canal or transiting the Canal, subject always to appropriate administrative regulations of the Canal Zone.

ARTICLE IV

The Government of the Republic of Panama shall not impose import duties or taxes of any kind on goods destined for or consigned to the agencies of the Government of the United States of America in the Republic of Panama when the goods are intended for the official use of such agencies, or upon goods destined for or consigned to persons included in classes (a) and (b) in Section 2 of Article III of this Treaty, who reside or sojourn in territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama during the performance of their service with the United States of America, the Panama Canal or the Panama Railroad Company, when the goods are intended for their own use and benefit.

The United States of America shall not impose import duties or taxes of any kind on goods, wares and merchandise passing from territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama into the Canal Zone.

No charges of any kind shall be imposed by the authorities of the United States of America upon persons residing in territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama passing from the said territory into the Canal Zone, and no charges of any kind shall be imposed by the authorities of the Republic of Panama upon persons in the service of the United States of America or residing in the Canal Zone passing from the Canal Zone into territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama, all other persons passing from the Canal Zone into territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama being subject to the full effects of the immigration laws of the Republic.

In view of the fact that the Canal Zone divides the territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama, the United States of America agrees that, subject to such police regulations as circumstances may require, Panamanian citizens who may occasionally be deported from the Canal Zone shall be assured transit through the said zone, in order to pass from one part to another of the territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama.

ARTICLE V

Article IX of the Convention of November 18, 1903, is hereby superseded. The Republic of Panama has the right to impose upon merchandise destined to be introduced for use or consumption in territory under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama, and upon vessels touching at Panamanian ports and upon the officers, crew or passengers of such vessels, the taxes or charges provided by the laws of the Republic of Panama; it being understood that the Republic of Panama will continue directly and exclusively to exercise its jurisdiction over the ports of Panama and Colon and to operate exclusively with Panamanian personnel such facilities as are or may be established therein by the Republic or by its authority. However, the Republic of Panama shall not impose or collect any charges or taxes upon any vessel using or passing through the Canal which does not touch at a port under Panamanian jurisdiction or upon the officers, crew or passengers of such vessels, unless they enter the Republic; it being also understood that taxes and charges imposed by the Republic of Panama upon vessels using or passing through the Canal which touch at ports under Panamanian jurisdiction,

or upon their cargo, officers, crew or passengers, shall not be higher than those imposed upon vessels which touch only at ports under Panamanian jurisdiction and do not transit the Canal, or upon their cargo, officers, crew or passengers.

The Republic of Panama also has the right to determine what persons or classes of persons arriving at ports of the Canal Zone shall be admitted to the Republic of Panama and to determine likewise what persons or classes of persons arriving at such ports shall be excluded from admission to the Republic of Panama.

The United States of America will furnish to the Republic of Panama free of charge the necessary sites for the establishment of customhouses in the ports of the Canal Zone for the collection of duties on importations destined to the Republic and for the examination of merchandise, baggage and passengers consigned to or bound for the Republic of Panama, and for the prevention of contraband trade, it being understood that the collection of duties and the examination of merchandise and passengers by the agents of the Government of the Republic of Panama, in accordance with this provision, shall take place only in the customhouses to be established by the Government of the Republic of Panama as herein provided, and that the Republic of Panama will exercise exclusive jurisdiction within the sites on which the customhouses are located so far as concerns the enforcement of immigration or customs laws of the Republic of Panama, and over all property therein contained and the personnel therein employed.

To further the effective enforcement of the rights hereinbefore recognized, the Government of the United States of America agrees that, for the purpose of obtaining information useful in determining whether persons arriving at ports of the Canal Zone and destined to points within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama should be admitted or excluded from admission into the Republic, the immigration officers of the Republic of Panama shall have the right of free access to vessels upon their arrival at the Balboa or Cristobal piers or wharves with passengers destined for the Republic; and that the appropriate authorities of the Panama Canal will adopt such administrative regulations regarding persons entering ports of the Canal Zone and destined to points within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama as will facilitate the exercise by the authorities of Panama of their jurisdiction in the manner provided in Paragraph 4 of this Article for the purposes stated in Paragraph 3 thereof.

ARTICLE VI

The first sentence of Article VII of the Convention of November 18, 1903, is hereby amended so as to omit the following phrase: "or by the exercise of the right of eminent domain."

The third paragraph of Article VII of the Convention of November 18, 1903, is hereby abrogated.

ARTICLE VII

Beginning with the annuity payable in 1934 the payments under Article XIV of the Convention of November 18, 1903, between the United States of America and the Republic of Panama, shall be four hundred and thirty thousand Balboas (B/430,000.00) as defined by the agreement embodied in an exchange of notes of this date. The United States of America may discharge its obligation with respect to any such payment, upon payment in any coin or currency, provided the amount to be paid is the equivalent of four hundred and thirty thousand Balboas (B/430,000.00) as so defined.

ARTICLE VIII

In order that the city of Colon may enjoy direct means of land communication under Panamanian jurisdiction with other territory under jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama, the United States of America hereby transfers to the Republic of Panama jurisdiction over a corridor, the exact limits of which shall be agreed upon and demarcated by the two Governments pursuant to the following description:

(a) The end at Colon connects with the southern end of the east half of the Paseo del Centenario at Sixteenth Street, Colon; thence the corridor proceeds in a general southerly direction, parallel to and east of Bolivar Highway to the civinity of the northern edge of Silver City; thence eastward near the shore .ine of Folks River, around the northeast corner of Silver City; thence in a general southeasterly direction and generally parallel to the Randolph Road to a crossing of said Randolph Road, about 1,200 feet east of the East Diversion; thence in a general northeasterly direction to the eastern boundary line of the Canal zone near the southeastern corner of the Fort Randolph Reservation, southwest of

Cativa. The approximate route of the corridor is shown on the map which accompanies this Treaty, signed by the Plenipotentiaries of the two countries and marked "Exhibit A."

(b) The width of the corridor shall be as follows: 25 feet in width from the Colon end to a point east of the southern line of Silver City; thence 100 feet in width to Randolph Road, except that, at any elevated crossing which may be built over Randolph Road and the railroad, the corridor will be no wider than is necessary to include the viaduct and will not include any part of Randolph Road proper, or of the railroad right of way, and except that, in case of a grade crossing over Randolph Road and the railroad, the corridor will be interrupted by that highway and railroad, thence 200 feet in width to the boundary line of the Canal Zone.

The Government of the United States of America will extinguish any private titles existing or which may exist in and to the land included in the above-described corridor.

The stream and drainage crossings of any highway built in the corridor shall not restrict the water passage to less than the capacity of the existing streams and drainage.

No other construction will take place within the corridor than that relating to the construction of a highway and to the installation of electric power, telephone, and telegraph lines; and the only activities which will be conducted within the said corridor will be those pertaining to the construction, maintenance, and common uses of a highway and of power and communication lines.

The United States of America shall enjoy at all times the right of unimpeded transit across the said corridor at any point, and of travel along the corridor, subject to such traffic regulations as may be established by the Government of the Republic of Panama; and the Government of the United States of America shall have the right to such use of the corridor as would be involved in the construction of connecting or intersecting highways or railroads, overhead and underground power, telephone, telegraph and pipe lines, and additional drainage channels, on condition that these structures and their use shall not interfere with the purpose of the corridor as provided hereinabove.

ARTICLE IX

In order that direct means of land communication, together with accommodation for the high-tension power transmission lines, may be provided under jurisdiction of the United States of America from the Madden Dam to the Čanal Zone, the Republic of Panama hereby transfers to the United States of America jurisdiction over a corridor, the limits of which shall be demarcated by the two Governments pursuant to the following descriptions (descriptions follow):

The Government of the Republic of Panama will extinguish any private titles existing or which may exist in and to the land included in the above-described corridor.

The stream and drainage crossings of any highway built in the corridor shall not restrict the water passage to less than the capacity of the existing streams and drainage.

No other construction will take place within the corridor than that relating to the construction of a highway and to the installation of electric power, telephone, and telegraph lines; and the only activities which will be conducted within the said corridor will be those pertaining to the construction, maintenance and common uses of a highway, and of power and communication lines, and auxiliary works thereof.

The Republic of Panama shall enjoy at all times the right of unimpeded transit across the said corridor at any point, and of travel along the corridor, subject to such traffic regulations as may be established by the authorities of the Panama Canal; and the Government of the Republic of Panama shall have the right to such use of the corridor as would be involved in the construction of connecting or intersecting highways, or railroads, overhead and underground power, telephone, telegraph, and pipe lines, and additional drainage channels, on condition that these structures and their use shall not interfere with the purpose of the corridor as provided hereinabove.

ARTICLE X

In case of an international conflagration or the existence of any threat of aggression which would endanger the security of the Republic of Panama or the neutrality or security of the Panama Canal, the Government of the United States of

« PreviousContinue »