...in mind. Thus tho Joint Declaration of October 14, 1977, affirms the right of the United States to "defend the Canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality," and to "have the right to act against any aggression or threat directed against the Canal or acrainst the...

...to defend the canal against any threat to the permanent regime of neutrality. They each, therefore, shall have the right to act against any aggression...or against the peaceful transit of vessels through it. The neutrality treaty further provides that US and Panamanian warships and auxiliary vessels shall...

..."ambiguous." The Statement included the following passages: first, that each of "the two countries shall, in accordance with their respective constitutional...Canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality"; second, that the previous provision "does not mean, nor shall it be interpreted as a right of intervention...

...On the issue of intervention, the statement, in part, provides — "* * * each of the two countries shall in accordance with their respective constitutional...the peaceful transit of vessels through the canal." In addition to this language, however, the joint statement provides — "This does not mean, nor shall...

...all nations. The coirect interpretation of this principle is that each of the two countries shall, ip accordance with their .respective constitutional processes,...or threat directed against the Canal or against the peacet1:! transit of vessels through the Canal. "'This does not mean, nor shall it be interpreted as,...

...ships of all nations. The correct interpretation of this principle is that each of the two countries shall, in accordance with their respective constitutional...regime of neutrality, and consequently shall have the canal or against the peaceful transit of vessels through the canal. This does not mean, nor shall it...

...against any threat to the permanent regime of neutrality." Thus, says the Administration, each country "shall have the right to act against any aggression...or against the peaceful transit of vessels through it." The problem is that you cannot find in the text of the Neutrality Treaty words which explicitly...

...makes clear that each of the two countries — the United States and Panama — will have the permanent right to act against any aggression or threat directed...the peaceful transit of vessels through the canal. The statement also confirms that in case of need or emergency, American ships of war will go through...

...Panama, dated October 14, 1977, to the effect that : • * * each of the two countries shall * » * defend the Canal against any threat to the regime...neutrality, and consequently shall have the right to net against nggtression or threat directed against the Canal or against the peaceful transit of vessels...

...ships of all nations. The correct interpretation of this principle is that each of the two countries shall, in accordance with their respective constitutional...defend the canal against any threat to the regime or neutrality, and consequently shall have the right to act against any aggression or threat directed...