1. Accepting the invitation of the United States Secretary of State, the Foreign Ministers of Latin America met April 17-18 in Washington to resume the dialogue begun at the Conference of Tlatelolco in Mexico eight weeks ago. Attending this meeting were the Foreign Ministers of Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela, and the representative of the Foreign Minister of Guatemala.

2. The meeting of Foreign Ministers continued in the atmosphere of cordiality and openness which characterized the Conference of Tlatelolco. The Foreign Ministers reiterated their conviction that these meetings contribute to greater inter-American cooperation and solidarity. The topics discussed were: Structure of International Trade and the Monetary System; Cooperation for Development; Transnational Enterprises; Solution of the Question of the Panama Canal; Coercive Measures of an Economic Nature; and Transfers of Technology.

3. The Foreign Ministers of the Latin American countries presented their views and positions on the several topics covered by the agenda. The Secretary of State of the United States responded, stating United States policy on the respective subjects and expressing the intention and desire of the United States to cooperate effectively in the integral development of the Latin American countries.

10. The Foreign Ministers of Latin America reiterated in its entirety the Declaration adopted in Bogota at the "Conference of Chancellors of Latin America for Continental Cooperation" as regards the solution of the Panama Canal question and reaffirmed it without change during the course of the new dialogue begun at the Conference of Tlatelolco. The Foreign Ministers reiterated their confidence that the bilateral negotiations presently in progress between the governments of Panama and the United States would continue in a positive tone and conclude as soon as possible with satisfactory results in conformity with the spirit of the new dialogue.

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The foreign policy of the United States as one overriding goal: to help shape a ew structure of international relations shich promotes cooperation rather than force; negotiation rather than confrontation; and the positive aspirations of peoples rather han the accumulation of arms by nations.

Our relations with the Western Hemiphere are central to this enterprise. The United States and Latin America were born ut of the struggle against tyranny. Our peoples are bound not only by geography but by the common heritage of Western civiliation. We share a history of mutual support in times of trouble and the promise of new world of justice, peace, freedom, and rosperity. With courage and imagination re now have the opportunity to make interAmerican cooperation a pillar of the global Community which our era demands.

President Ford has asked me to reaffirm our commitment to a new relationship be tween the United States and Latin America based on the principles of nonintervention, the sovereign equality of nations, and mutual respect among partners. Success will require a similar desire and attitude on the part of the other countries of the hemisphere.

These principles will guide the U.S. approach to major issues that have risen between us the status of the Panama Canal; the place of Cuba in the hemisphere; and the various strands of our economic relations. * * *

The Panama Canal. Since its opening, the peoples of the world have looked on the Panama Canal as an important lifeline of commerce and international security. It is essential that the canal remain open to the ships of all nations on fair terms.

In acquiring the rights to build the canal, the United States was granted exclusive control the rights which it would possess and exercise "if it were the sovereign"- Over a 10-mile-wide strip of Panamanian territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the Canal Zone, we enforce U.S. laws, operate commercial enterprises, and control most of the deepwater port facilities that serve Panama.

Over time, the nature of the U.S. presence has come to be viewed by the people of Panama-and, indeed, by most of the rest of the hemisphere as an infringement upon their

national sovereignty and their principal re source: their country's strategic location.

Clearly, both Panama and the United States have vital interests in the canal. The challenge is to reconcile the security needs of the United States with Panama's national honor and sovereignty. Negotiations on this problem have gone on intermittently for 11 years; in the last year and a half they have moved forward rapidly. We now believe that an agreement on terms fair to all is possible.

We have made progress because each side has recognized the essential needs and constraints of the other. The United States understands that a treaty negotiated in 1903 does not meet the requirements of 1975. We are ready to acknowledge that it is reasonable for Panama to exercise jurisdiction over its territory and to participate in the operation and defense of the canal. We are prepared to modify arrangements which conflict with Panamanian dignity and self-respect.

In turn we will expect Panama to understand our perspective-that the efficient, fair, and secure operation of the canal is a vital economic and security interest of the United States, that a new treaty must provide for the operation and defense of the canal by the United States for an extended period of time, and that a new treaty must protect the legitimate interests of our citizens and property in Panama.

A new treaty based on these principles will make the United States and Panama partners in the operation of the canal, protect the essential national interests of both, and provide a secure arrangement for the long term.

Serious problems remain to be resolved in the negotiation. But we are confident that they will be overcome if both parties continue to display the seriousness and mutual understanding they have shown so far.

The Administration has been consulting with the Congress as our negotiations have proceeded. We will intensify these consultations and discuss in detail the arrangements which we envisage. A new treaty which reflects the advice and consent of the Senate and the full support of the American people will be a concrete and significant demonstration that with good will on both sides cooperative solutions to the problems of the Western Hemisphere are possible.

96-673 - 77-95

The Head of Government of Panama and the Presidents of Colombia and Costa Rica, gathered in the City of Panama, with the presence of the Presi dent of Venezuela and by invitation of the Panamanian Government.

RECALLING that the Panama Canal Question was proclaimed in the Meetings of Foreign Ministers in Bogota, Tlatelolco and Washington as being a matter of common interest to Latin America.

BEARING IN MIND the importance of the. unanimous support voiced by Latin America for the exercise of the inalienable rights devolving upon the Republic of Panama as the territorial sovereign over all the geographic area within its borders with the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Costa Rica.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that respect for the 'permanent sovereignty of nations over their natural wealth is fundamental to the economic development of peoples and cognizant that the geographical position of the Isthmus of Panama constitutes the main natural resource of the State of Panama and the interoceanic canal a means for the utilization of such resource.

CONSIDERING the special relationships of neighborhood and friendship between the Governments and Peoples of Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica.

CALLING ATTENTION to the fact that the Panama Canal, situated in Panamanian territory is subject to the risks and dangers that would derive from

nuclear war in the event of an international confia gration, which exposes the three countries to suffering like consequences, notwithstanding their !fundamental interest in the neutralization of said canal and their proven adherence to the concerted efforts of United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security

ACKNOWLEDGING the spirit of international cooperation of the Republic of Panama as a staunch supporter of the objectives of Latin Ameri can integration, in harmony with the ideals of the Liberator

CONVINCED that their government are capable of accelerating the economic development of their countries and improving the standards of living and well-being of their peoples through the promotion of development programs in their bor. dering areas.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that on 7 February 1974 the Republic of Panama and the United States of America signed a Joint Statement which set forth 8 fundamental principles to serve as guidelines for the negotiators of both countries. wherein it is provided, among other things, that the Panamanian territory of which the Panama Canal is a part will be returned to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama, and that the latter will assume total responsibility for the inter-oceanic canal upon the termination of the new treaty.

Have agreed to sign the following Declaration: 1. The Presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela reaffirm the full support of their respective peoples and Governments for the just Panamanian aspirations in the Panama Canal Question and agree to address all the Latin American Governments for the purpose of inviting them to carry out new efforts towards materializing the support offered Panama for its endeavor for a new Canal Treaty with the United States of America that will

*New York Times, April 10, 1975, p. 31.

eliminate the causes of conflict between the two countries in harmony with the principles of Interna tional Law concerning friendly relations and coop eration among States

11 Inspired by the principles set forth above. the Government of the Republic of Panama, as the free expression of its sovereign will, declares its readiness, upon approval of a new Canal Treaty with the United States, to arrive at an agreement with the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Costa Rica, aimed at granting those neighboring countries the following benefits:

1. Transit through the Panama Canal for the natural and industrial products of Colombia and Costa Rica, as well as for their respective mails. shall be exempt from any charge or duty, other than those that are applied or that may be applied to the products and mails of the Republic of Panama, in terms of equality.

2 Nationals of Colombia and Costa Rica who transit through the Panamanian interoceanic route, shall do so free of tolls, taxes or levies that are not applicable to Panamanian nationals, provided they show proper proof of their nationality

3. The Governments of the Republics of Colombia and Costa Rica may at all times. transport through the interoceanic Canal their troops, mater als of war and ships of war, without paying any toils. III The Republic of Colombia declares that once Panama has concluded a new Canal Treaty with the United States of America and once the agreement referred to in the present Declaration has been perfected, it waives all rights granted by treaty with respect to matters that are within the exclusive sovereign jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama

IV. The Governments of the signatory States take note with sincere pleasure of the efforts being carried out by certain countries of the region towards a solution of the problems of maritime transport, within the spirit of Latin American inte gration, and agree to consult with each other on this important matter.

V. The Governments of Panama, Colombia and Costa Rica agree to grant special priority to devis. ing and promoting development programs in their bordering areas with a view to accelerating the economic development in their countries and improving the standards of living and well-being of their peoples.

VI. The Presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela express their deep concern for the dila tation with which the negotiations between Panama and the United States to conclude a new treaty on the Canal have been developing, since their initiation eleven years ago. They, likewise, point out the existing contrast between the manner in which three Latin American countries have been able to overcome obstacles, thanks to Panama's hemispheric conception, and the excessive hindrances which still interfere in the settlement of the canal problem, a matter which Latin America considers as of her own concern and deems as requiring an urgent solution.

Given in the city of Panama, Capital of the Republic of Panama, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of March, of the year one thousand nine hundred seventy five.

PANAMA MARCH 24, 1975

Following is a joint U.S.-Panama statenent read by Secretary Kissinger on May 10 in an informal session of heads of delegations it the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, together with the text of 1 resolution adopted by the Assembly on May

15.

STATEMENT READ BY SECRETARY KISSINGER

The negotiations looking toward an agreement for a new canal treaty between the Re-public of Panama and the United States of America began 11 years ago, when both countries signed a joint declaration on April 3, 1964, under the auspices of the Council of the Organization of American States.

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In reviewing the present state of the negotiations for a new canal treaty, we wish to emphasize that the recent efforts of both parties to be frank and open in their presentations has opened the door to advances in the negotiating process. We continue to believe that this is an indispensable prerequisite to the success of the conversations being held by the representatives of our respective governments and peoples.

We view the negotiations as a search for a total and complete agreement directed at eliminating all causes of conflict between the Republic of Panama and the United States of America, as an elaboration of that which was first set down in the statement of eight principles signed by the representatives of both countries on February 7, 1974. These eight principles constitute the fundamental framework within which the present negotiations are going forward, and it is on those principles that an entirely new treaty, of fixed duration, will be based.

The negotiations are a single whole; the subjects cannot be separated one from another. To arrange the procedures for the negotiations, the work has been divided into subjects taken up in a predetermined sequence so that the two parties in an objective and honest fashion might arrive at partial agreements leading to a single, coherent transaction.

During the last year there have been significant advances in important subjects; these

include agreements relating to jurisdiction, to the administration of the canal, and to conceptual aspects on protection and defense of the canal. But it is still necessary to negotiate other fundamental subjects, among them the duration of the new treaty and the use of land and water.

It is clear that the negotiation is a delicate political process. The need for a new treaty is clear, but it has been developing over too long a time. We look toward a new type of relationship between Panama and the United States which will be truly equitable to both. We are convinced that it is imperative to achieve real and visible progress in the subjects to be negotiated, and both governments are bending their best efforts to that end, attempting to avoid unsurmountable difficulties which might frustrate the ultimate success of the negotiation.

We realize that the hemisphere, which considers the canal issue a matter of common interest, will welcome with profound satisfaction that day in the not too distant future when two sovereign nations of the continent -Panama and the United States-present the final results of their efforts in the form of a new, just, and equitable treaty and lay to rest the possibility of an event of international political turmoil which would be of concern to all.

TEXT OF RESOLUTION 1

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF
PANAMA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON
THE QUESTION OF THE PANAMA CANAL
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING HEARD the report on the negotiations concerning the Panama Canal question made by the representatives of the United States and Panama

and

CONSIDERING:

That the Meetings of Foreign Ministers held in Bogotá, Tlatelolco, and Washington proclaimed the Panama Canal question to be of common interest for Latin America;

That on March 24, 1975, the Head of the Panamanian Government and the Presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela signed in Panama City a Joint Declaration concerning the Panama Canal question; and

That the Declaration has as antecedents the Joint