711F.1914/552: Airgram
The Ambassador in Panama ( Wilson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 8—3 p.m.]
A–390. In response to recent request for additional defense site for searchlight and radio detector station, Minister for Foreign Affairs has replied referring to his note of July 15 last No. D.P. 3909 (see telegram No. 783, July 16, 4 p.m. and despatch No. 2617 same date),45 stating that Panamanian Government has approved 12 additional defense sites (actually 9 new sites and 3 enlargements of old sites) since signature of the Agreement of May 1846 and that it has become particularly difficult for the Government to continue authorizing the use of national territory without being in a position to inform the country that the agreement signed over 4 months ago has entered into effect. The Foreign Minister states that because of this situation he finds it necessary before authorizing the new defense site requested, to have a meeting of technical representatives of the United States and of Panamá to establish fully the necessity, urgency and other details concerning the new defense site. (Since receipt of this note the Army has requested one more defense site for observation post).
[Page 613]This note from the Foreign Minister is an added indication of the concern which the President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have expressed to me of late regarding the question of early approval by our Congress of those points of the Washington exchange of notes of May 18 which cover the railroad lots, water works and Rio Hato Highway credit.
The problem for the Panamanian Government is that until the Defense Sites Agreement enters into effect (which they feel can only be after our Congress acts on the Twelve Points) they are unable to make arrangements with private owners of lands used. As a result criticism of the Government increases steadily, and its opponents charge that the United States either will not ratify the Twelve Points or will delay ratification for some years as in the case of the 1936 Treaty.
I have of course explained to the President and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the United States Congress has before it for consideration a great volume of proposed legislation of tremendous importance to the war effort, and have pointed out that as regards the legislation of interest to Panamá the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House has given a favorable report and a hearing of the Senate Committee is taking place today (October 5).47 The President and members of his Government, however, are deeply anxious over this question, and their anxiety has been augmented by the injection of the private land claims into the matter.