75-10-A6
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Panama Canal[edit]
Transcript[edit]Is a diplomatic version of Let's Make A Deal in the best interest of the United States when it comes to the Panama Canal? I'll be right back. Panama became a republic in 1903 following its secession from Colombia. We recognized the fledgling state and later that year entered into a treaty with it in which we were allowed to lease, in perpetuity, the narrow strip of land in which the Panama Canal was to be built and operated. An American engineering achievement, the canal opened in 1914 and the United States has been operating it ever since. In 1921, we paid Colombia 25 million dollars for her loss of Panama and in 1939 we stepped up our annual lease payments to the Republic of Panama making the increase retroactive to 1934. In more recent years the Panamanian government has been demanding revisions in the original treaty and some of our leaders insist on an outright handover of the Canal Zone from us to them. Though he hasn't said anything about it publicly Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is rumored to be seriously considering plans to make a deal with the Panamanians in order to mollify them. According to Senator Jesse Helms, quote, "I have received reliable information that Dr. Kissinger has approved plans to turn over effective control of police and fire protection and postal services in the Canal Zone to the Republic of Panama." Unquote. According to Senator Helms there is a new theory in circulation at the State Department to the effect that there's nothing illegal about transferring day-to-day control to the Panamanian government, following the signing of a mere treaty draft and prior to and without any ratification by the U.S. Senate. The transfer of police, fire and postal services to the Panamanian government may seem like a mild move at a glance, it has very serious implications for the future operation of the canal itself. Police and fire protection for the canal workers and other U.S. citizens would be essential in the case of civil disturbances, always a possibility in this volatile part of Central America. In the case of postal services, U.S. citizens could be subjected to having all their mail monitored by the head of Panama's G2 section, Lieutenant-Colonel Manuel Noriega, a man not unfriendly to the Cuban Communists and one who's very influential in the current Panamanian regime. Not a pretty prospect if you're an American in Panama is it? If Dr. Kissinger were to arraign such a deal, according to Senator Helms there, quote, "Would be a rapid outflow of U.S. citizens from the Canal Zone. Operating the canal is a difficult, exacting task where a few simple mistakes could close the canal for months. Any actions which encourage the out-migration of U.S. personnel is tantamount to abdication of the U.S. presence there." Unquote. That the maintenance of the Canal, open and in good order, is a necessity to the security of the United States should be obvious to every school child, let alone all the adults. If the rumors about this diplomatic version of Let's Make A Deal over some of the workaday activities in the Canal Zone are true, one can and is forced to ask, why. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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