Hearings, Reports and Prints of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

disputes between the American nations have been settled at the conference table. This achievement in this hemisphere offers a hopeful model for all those who pursue peace in every continent. This is truly a great day for America, for Panama, for all the people of the Western Hemisphere, and for all freedom-loving people everywhere.

We welcome you to the White House. We thank you for having We greet especially the ambassadors who are here and the members of the National Security Council, who only a few moments ago approved this agreement.

Thank you very much.

Document III-64

"The United States and the Government of Colombia Have Already Reached an Agreement To Conduct Studies Relative to a Survey for a Sea-Level Canal": STATEMENT READ BY THE PRESIDENT (JOHNSON) AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, APRIL 16, 1964 72

Document III-65

Report on Three New Developments With Respect to United States-Panamanian Relations: STATEMENT READ BY THE PRESIDENT (JOHNSON) ATA NEWS CONFERENCE, MAY 6, 1964 78

Let me... report three new developments with respect to our relations with Panama. First, Special Ambassador Anderson came to see me this morning." He has returned from a very fruitful visit to Panama, during which he met in a very cordial atmosphere with President Chiari, Special Ambassador Illucca, and with other Panamanian officials, for the purpose of having a preliminary exchange of views on U.S.-Panamanian problems.

I met with the Special Ambassadors today, both from Panama and the United States, and I expressed to both of them my sincere hope for a mutually satisfactory outcome of their talks, in view of the impor tance to both countries, in view of the importance to the hemisphere, in view of the importance to the free world.

Second, I have received a report on the work of the special U.S. economic team to Panama, which I mentioned about 2 weeks ago." The team went to Panama on April 27, and held a number of conversations with Panamanian economic officials and private sector representatives. The talks were most fruitful and constructive, and helped to lay the foundation for more detailed discussions later in the spring regarding U.S. cooperation in Panama's effort to improve its economy under the Alliance for Progress.

Third, in an effort to further improve the formulation and execution of U.S. policy towards Panama, I have directed our Ambassador in Panama to chair a committee which includes the Governor of the Panama Canal Zone and the Commander in Chief U.S. Southern Command. This committee will meet regularly to discuss all aspects of U.S.-Panamanian relations and make proposals regarding them.

12 Post, doc. III-76.

"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-64, vol. I, pp. 617–618.

"See ante, doc. III-63.

Cabled classified report. [Footnote in source text.]

April-June 1964*

Document III-63

"We Will Now Immediately Renew Relations [With Panama], Appoint Special Ambassadors, and Begin a Process Which Aims at a Final Resolution of Our Difficulties": STATEMENT MADE BY THE PRESIDENT (JOHNSON) FOLLOWING A MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, APRIL 3, 1964 *

69

Your Excellencies, Members of the Congress: Today's agreement" is both a beginning and a renewal. It provides that we will reestablish diplomatic relations; we will immediately appoint special ambassadors with sufficient powers to seek the prompt elimination of the causes of conflict between the two countries without limitations or preconditions of any kind.

I have already talked to the distinguished President of Panama and informed him that the United States has selected the former distinguished Secretary of the Treasury, a great law professor, Mr. Robert B. Anderson, to be our Ambassador to carry on these discussions.

We will also send the regular Ambassador to Panama's name to the Senate as soon as we have received approval from the Panamanian Government."

We are thus embarking upon the solution of our problems without preconditions or limitations of any kind, believing that a lasting agreement depends upon the utmost freedom and the utmost flexibility of approach. We will now immediately renew relations, appoint special ambassadors, and begin a process which aims at a final resolution of our difficulties.

Arrival at this agreement in the presence of understandable but intense emotions and convictions is a tribute to our essential unity of interest. We share much history. We share a commitment to the liberty that we have achieved in the past and to the progress that we intend for the future. We can now proceed not only to solve today's difficulties but toward the increased welfare of all the people of the Americas under the Alliance for Progress.

So, gentlemen, let us approach our search for a solution with the openness and the generosity of those who seek only the strengthening of friendship. Let us meet as sovereign nations, as allies, and as equal partners in the inter-American system.

Panama can be confident, as we are confident, that we each desire an agreement which protects the interests and recognizes the needs of both our nations.

I would also like on this occasion to especially and particularly thank the OAS for its very important role. This is further proof of the unmatched effectiveness of the inter-American system. For decades

*American Foreign Policy. Current Documents, 1964, pp. 366–370.

Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 27, 1964, pp. 655–656.

TO Supra.

13

The Senate on Apr. 7 confirmed the nomination of Jack Hood Vaughn to be Ambassador to Panama.

disputes between the American nations have been settled at the conference table. This achievement in this hemisphere offers a hopeful model for all those who pursue peace in every continent. This is truly & great day for America, for Panama, for all the people of the Western Hemisphere, and for all freedom-loving people every where.

We welcome you to the White House. We thank you for having come. We greet especially the ambassadors who are here and the members of the National Security Council, who only a few moments ago approved this agreement.

Thank you very much.

Document III-64

"The United States and the Government of Colombia Have Already Reached an Agreement To Conduct Studies Relative to a Survey for a Sea-Level Canal": STATEMENT READ BY THE PRESIDENT (JOHNSON) AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, APRIL 16, 1964 72

Document III-65

Report on Three New Developments With Respect to United States-Panamanian Relations: STATEMENT READ BY THE PRESIDENT (JOHNSON) AT A NEWS CONFERENCE, MAY 6, 1964 78

Let me... report three new developments with respect to our relations with Panama. First, Special Ambassador Anderson came to see me this morning." He has returned from a very fruitful visit to Panama, during which he met in a very cordial atmosphere with President Chiari, Special Ambassador Illueca, and with other Panamanian officials, for the purpose of having a preliminary exchange of views on U.S.-Panamanian problems.

I met with the Special Ambassadors today, both from Panama and the United States, and I expressed to both of them my sincere hope for a mutually satisfactory outcome of their talks, in view of the importance to both countries, in view of the importance to the hemisphere, in view of the importance to the free world.

Second, I have received a report on the work of the special U.S. economic team to Panama, which I mentioned about 2 weeks ago." The team went to Panama on April 27, and held a number of conversations with Panamanian economic officials and private sector representatives. The talks were most fruitful and constructive, and helped to lay the foundation for more detailed discussions later in the spring regarding U.S. cooperation in Panama's effort to improve its economy under the Alliance for Progress.

Third, in an effort to further improve the formulation and execution of U.S. policy towards Panama, I have directed our Ambassador in Panama to chair a committee which includes the Governor of the Panama Canal Zone and the Commander in Chief U.S. Southern Command. This committee will meet regularly to discuss all aspects of U.S.-Panamanian relations and make proposals regarding them.

"Post, doc. III-76.

=3

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-64, vol. I, pp. 617-618.

"Cabled classified report. [Footnote in source text.]

Document III-66

"The Report [of the International Commission of Jurists] Exonerates the United States of the Charge That We Violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [in Panama]": STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, JUNE 9, 1964

76

We welcome this detailed study by an impartial body giving an objective account of the unfortunate events of January." The report exonerates the United States of the charge that we violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations," a charge which the International Commission of Jurists was asked to investigate by the National Bar Association of Panama.

The report also states that U.S. authorities were entitled to use force to meet a real threat to life and security in the Canal Zone, and it regrets that Panamanian authorities "made no attempt during the critical early hours as well as for almost three days thereafter to curb and control the violent activities of the milling crowds."

We believe that the tragic loss of lives and the destruction of property would have been avoided had adequate measures been taken at the outset.

The report concludes with the hope that the work of the ICJ "will contribute to the growth of understanding, cooperation, and amity between the two countries and their peoples, so that they may move forward in the furtherance of their mutual vital interests." We fully subscribe to this sentiment.

Document III-67

"Meetings [Between the United States and Panamanian Delega. tions] Will Continue on a Day-to-Day Basis": STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, JUNE 23, 1964 79

Ambassadors [Jorge] Illueca and [Robert B.] Anderson announced today [June 23] that they have been conferring on a continuing basis with reference to the procedural matters involved in the meetings between the Panamanian and United States delegations in order to resolve any differences that might exist between the two countries.80 They are formulating the substantive problems which will be the subjects of their proceedings. There is a high degree of cordiality and understanding between the two delegations, each appreciating the problems of the other. Meetings will continue on a day-to-day basis. At such times as there are significant developments appropriate news releases will be made in order to keep the people of both Republics informed.

76

Department of State Bulletin, June 29, 1964, p. 1000. The statement was read to news correspondents by Richard I. Phillips, Director of the Office of News. The report was released on June 9 at Geneva.

п See ante, doc. III-41.