711F.1914/12–1047: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Panama
us urgent
niact
549. Dept plans issue following press release at 4 p.m. today:
The US Amb to Panama, General Frank T. Hines, and the Acting Fonmin of the Republic of Panama, Sr. Don Francisco A. Filós today signed an agreement on behalf of their Govts which provides for the continued use of certain sites in the territory of the Republic for the defense of the Panama Canal.
This new agreement exemplifies and continues the spirit of cooperation evidenced by Panama in the accord of May 18, 1942. Under the former agreement the Republic of Panama made available 134 areas in its national territory for use during World War II. The new accord provides for use by the US of 13 sites, principally technical installations essential to safe aerial navigation, for a period of five years. A 14th site at Rio Hato, an important military air base some 70 miles west of Panama City, will be leased by the US under terms of the agreement for a period of 10 years, with option for an additional 10 years.
The agreement signed in Panama today at noon is the result of a lengthy study by the two Govts of lessons learned during the recent [Page 942] conflict relative to Canal defenses and takes into account its current and future security requirements. It is designed to insure continuous operation and effective protection of the Canal as provided in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed by the two countries in 1936. It gives recognition to the fact that requirements of modern defense make essential the use of certain areas outside the 10-mile wide Canal Zone for the protection of the international waterway which is so vital to the interests of the US and Panama.
The agreement provides for the appointment by the two Govts of representatives who will jointly administer the agreement. Under terms of the accord the US assumes authority and responsibility for all technical, military and economic matters connected with the operation of the 14 defense sites.
The text of the agreement will be released in the near future.68a
- Department of State press release 967, December 12, 1947.↩