CONTENTS LIST OF WITNESSES Page STATEMENTS AND MEMORANDUMS SUPPLIED Memorial to the Congress-Panama Canal, sovereignty and moderniza- Background on Panama Canal treaty negotiations, submitted by Mr. Memorandum on 53rd annual national convention of the American Legion, Houston, Tex., August 31, September 1, 2, 1971, submitted by Mr. Headlines from the Panama American referred to by Mr. Flood__ Letter to Hon. Dante B. Fascell from Hon. Daniel J. Flood on question of whether new major canal modernization requires a new treaty, sub- Paper entitled Panama Canal in Great Danger, by Ira C. Eaker, Lt. Gen., U.S. Air Force, Retired, submitted by Mr. Rarick_. Article from Alert entitled "Providing Aid and Comfort to the Enemy is Treason," submitted by Mr. Rarick_. Paper by the Office of Interoceanic Canal Negotiations, on background of U.S. decision to resume Panama Canal treaty negotiations, sub- Telegram regarding violent demonstrations in the Panama Canal to the Letter of May 20, 1971, from Hon. Leonor K. Sullivan to the President of the United States, respectfully urging that the administration not begin Speech made by Hon. Leonor K. Sullivan on the floor of the House on April Speech to the House dated July 14, 1971 by Hon. Leonor K. Sullivan on certain news stories related to the speeches and promises of General Omar Torrijos and other officials of the Panamanian Government to the STATEMENTS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD BY Abernethy, Hon. Thomas G., a Representative in Congress from the State Baring Hon. Walter S., a Representative in Congress from the State of Buchanan, Hon. John H., Jr., a Representative in Congress from the State Cabell, Hon. Earle, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas Clawson, Hon. Del, a Representative in Congress from the State of Collier, Hon. Harold R., a Representative in Congress from the State of Cranston, Hon. Alan, a U.S. Senator from the State of California__ Dowdy, Hon. John, a Representative in Congress from the State of Texas__ Eilberg, Hon. Joshua, a Representative in Congress from the State of A. Convention for the Construction of a Ship Canal, 1903_- B. General Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation Between the United PANAMA CANAL, 1971 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1971 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTER-AMERICAN AFFAIRS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 2 p.m., in room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Dante B. Fascell (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. FASCELL. The subcommittee will please come to order. The United States is presently negotiating a new treaty governing the control and operation of one of the world's most important waterways-the Panama Canal. For 57 years, the canal has provided immense economic benefits to the United States, Panama, and the entire world. In times of war and crisis, it has also given us important military flexibility. Over the years since the original treaty between the United States and Panama for construction of the canal, the United States, in response to Panamanian requests, has modified the original treaty two times by treaty. While relations between our two countries are necessarily close and generally friendly, there remains a good deal of conflict and controversy over the canal. In the belief that these problems, if left unresolved, might permanently embitter relations between our two countries and in order to provide for needed new canal capacity, President Johnson agreed to negotiate a new treaty with Panama. While draft agreements were signed, they were never submitted for ratification in either country. Last December, the Atlantic-Pacific Interoceanic Canal Study Commission recommended that the United States construct a new sea level canal in Panama 10 miles west of the present canal site. Following this recommendation, President Nixon decided to reopen talks with Panama on a new basic treaty governing U.S. canal rights. While the House of Representatives does not have a direct voice in approval of treaties, many Members of Congress feel that the canal is so vital to U.S. interests that we should not give up a single right in the Canal Zone. The breadth and depth of this concern is evidenced by the fact that 88 Members have introduced 42 House resolutions to express the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S. maintain its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Panama Canal Zone. The subcommittee is meeting today to consider the resolutions and to hear from our distinguished colleagues on this subject. The greatest exponent of all is our great and distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania who has made a lifelong study of this matter, (1) |