Q:

A:

What about the security question?

Isn't it necessary for the
U. S. to maintain control over the Canal in order to protect
it from attack?

According to our Department of Defense, the Panama

Canal is very difficult to defend, even with the most sophisticated
weaponry. In fact, our military experts tell us that there is no
foolproof defense against sabotage or guerrilla action aimed at
the Canal. They believe that the defense of the Canal would
be greatly enhanced through a new Treaty that would assure a
cooperative relationship with Panama.

Given the Canal's vulnerability and the growing hostility of the Panamanians and other Latins, we are, if we insist on rigid maintenance of the status quo, playing Russian roulette with the Canal's security. Our best hope for safeguarding the Canal is to calm the tensions that exist. And the way to ease those tensions is to negotiate a new Treaty that takes into account Panama's legitimate aspirations and the desire of all

Panamanians for self-respect and dignity within their own

territorial boundaries.

Q.

Will the Russians be able to build the new sea-level canal in
Panama under the new treaties?

A.

No. Under the provisions of the new treaty, the United States
and Panama will jointly undertake a feasibility study on a sea-level
canal. If such a study finds that a sea-level canal is necessary,
then the U.S. and Panama will negotiate mutually acceptable terms
for the construction, operation and defense of that canal. Panama
agrees in the treaty that such a canal will not be built without
the consent of the U.S., in exchange for our agreement not to
build such a canal in any other country in the Western Hemisphere.
By that provision, we gain a lot by being able to prevent alien

-

or potentially hostile influences from building a new canal and

we have lost very little, since extensive studies indicate that the best routes for connecting the Atlantic and Pacific are in Panama. (In the last decade, there have been many studies of as many as 30 different routes through Colombia and Central America, and those outside of Panama have been shown to be either much too

expensive or too difficult to build for geological reasons.)

PANAMA CANAL TREATY

TREATY CONCERNING THE PERMANENT
NEUTRALITY AND OPERATION OF THE
PANAMA CANAL

The United States of America and the Republic of .

Panama,

Acting in the spirit of the Joint Declaration of April 3, 1964, by the Representatives of the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Panama, and of the Joint Statement of Principles of February 7, 1974, initialed by the Secretary of State of the United States of America and the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Panama, and

Acknowledging the Republic of Panama's sover

eignty over its territory,

Have decided to terminate the prior Treaties pertaining to the Panama Canal and to conclude a new Treaty to serve as the basis for a new relationship

between them and, accordingly, have agreed upon the following:

ARTICLE I

Abrogation of Prior Treaties and
Establishment of a New Relationship

1. Upon its entry into force, this Treaty terminates and supersedes:

(a) The Isthmian Canal Convention between

the United States of America and the Republic of Panama, signed at Washington, November 18, 1903;

(b) The Treaty of Friendship and Coopera

tion signed at Washington, March 2, 1936, and the Treaty of Mutual Understanding and Cooperation and the related Memorandum of Understandings Reached, signed at Panama, January 25, 1955, between the United States of America and the Republic of Panama;

(c) All other treaties, conventions, agreements and exchanges of notes between the United States of America and the Republic of Panama, concerning the Panama Canal which were in force prior to the entry into force of this Treaty; and

(d)

Provisions concerning the Panama Canal

which appear in other treaties, conventions, agreements and exchanges of notes between the United States of America and the Republic of Panama which were in force prior to the entry into force of this Treaty.

2. In accordance with the terms of this Treaty and related agreements, the Republic of Panama, as territorial sovereign, grants to the United States of America, for the duration of this Treaty, the rights

necessary to regulate the transit of sins through the Panama Canal, and to manage, operate, maintain, improve, protect and defend the Canal. The Republic of Panama guarantees to the United States of America the peaceful use of the land and water areas which it has been granted the rights to use for such purposes pursuant to this Treaty and related agreements.

3. The Republic of Panama shall participate increasingly in the management and protection and defense of the Canal, as provided in this Treaty.

4. In view of the special relationship established by this Treaty, the United States of America and the Republic of Panama shall cooperate to assure the uninterrupted and efficient operation of the Panama

Canal.

ARTICLE II

Ratification, Entry into Force, and Termination

1. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification in accordance with the constitutional procedures of the two Parties. The instruments of ratification of this Treaty shall be exchanged at Panama at the same time as the instruments of ratification of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, signed this date, are exchanged. This Treaty shall enter into force, simultaneously with the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, six calendar months