711F.1914/12–2347: Telegram
The Chargé in Panama (Hall) to the Secretary of State
760. Embtel 758 December 23.78 Assembly was in session almost 6 hours yesterday reaching final decision at 9:50 p.m. Most of time was taken up by questioning of Harmodio Arias, Ricardo Alfaro, Octavio Fabrega, Raul De Roux, and Narciso Garay,79 by Deputies Fabrega and De la Rosa, and by a violent peroration by the other Socialist Deputy Brower. There were constant interruptions from the galleries, demanding an immediate vote for rejection. Foreign Minister Arosemena was questioned briefly regarding his attitude toward the agreement. He weaseled saying that it was too clear that the Panamanian people were against it. Alfaro impugned our good faith saying that the continuous reduction of our original demand of “999 years” for Rio Hato only proved that we intended to occupy that base permanently. Brower and De la Rosa brought up all of Panama’s old woes and complaints, the latter saying that bringing about the rejection of the agreement did not complete the students’ work which had only just begun.
According to proper procedure Assembly would have first voted on minority report of agreement committee, which embodied complete rejection without prejudice to initiation of new negotiations and, if this were not adopted, majority report (Embtel 775, December 2078) would have been considered. This course was forestalled by the introduction [Page 947] of an independent motion presented by Deputy Felipe Perez and 10 other deputies objecting to the constitutionality of the majority report and reading as follows:
“The agreement signed in this city on the 10th instant by the representatives of the Governments of the Republic of Panama and the United States of America is hereby rejected, because the said agreement is not inspired in the principle of the juridical equality of the contracting states nor does it adhere to the norms of international law and the spirit of the inter-American system of defense.”
Due to the galleries’ insistence this was voted upon at once by roll call resulting in 51 “yes”. In voting, presidential candidate Fabrega was successful in making a statement that for two years he had consistently and fervently opposed the agreement, but another deputy, Mrs. Paez, was shouted down when she endeavored to say that, unfortunately but inevitably, the destinies of the two countries are inseparable.
In addition to the galleries, a large crowd outside the Assembly, armed with sticks and stones, kept up a continuous uproar. Merchants along the line of march to the Assembly were threatened and forced to close their shops. The session ended with the singing of the national anthem. Mild street demonstrations followed.
President Jimenez had had resignation of Foreign Minister Arosemena since December 17 (Embtel 745 December 18) but will probably not act on it until after Christmas when general reorganization of Cabinet is expected.
The approaching presidential campaign plus continued agitation by students and others will make atmosphere decidedly unfavorable to further negotiations of any kind for several months.