PANAMA

UNITED STATES COOPERATION IN THE FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF PANAMA: Joint Statement Issued at Washington by a Special Panamanian Economic Mission and U.S. Government Officials, October 8, 1961

6

129. UNITED STATES "COMPLETE RE-EXAMINATION OF CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS WITH RESPECT TO ISTHMIAN CANAL FACILITIES": Letter From the President of the United States (Kennedy) to the President of the Republic of Panama (Chiari), November 2, 1961 7

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have read with great interest your letter of September 8, 1961 which your brother delivered to me on September 15th. I am also very pleased to have had a personal conversation with your brother at that time.

I agree with you that an unusual community of interests exists between the Republic of Panama and the United States. Our respective Governments and peoples have been closely associated since the very beginning of your nation. The Panama Canal has been an important element in the development and growth of the relationship between our two countries, and has also contributed to the bonds of unity which link all the American Republics.

The Government of the United States hopes to maintain and strengthen the relations between our two nations on the basis of mutual respect and sincere friendship. I feel sure that the Government of Panama shares this objective.

Once again, on behalf of the Government of the United States, I reaffirm our willingness to cooperate wholeheartedly with the Government of Panama to insure the full enjoyment of the various benefits which the Canal should afford to the two nations that made possible its construction. We also wish to make these benefits available to all nations interested in international trade.

As I pointed out to your brother on September 15, I realize that the historic friendship and cooperation between our two countries has sometimes been marred by differences concerning the interpretation of the rights granted to the United States by the Republic of Panama." In past years, these problems have been resolved in various ways— sometimes through formal treaty negotiations and sometimes through

* Department of State press release No. 693, Oct. 7, 1961; the Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 30, 1961, pp. 728-730.

7 White House press release dated Nov. 15, 1961 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 4, 1961, pp. 932-933).

* Not printed.

See the convention of Nov. 18, 1903 (Treaty Series 431; 33 Stat. 2234), and the agreements of Mar. 2, 1936 (Treaty Series 945; 53 Stat. 1807) and Jan. 25, 1955 (TIAS 3297; 6 UST 2273).

friendly discussions and the subsequent implementation of specific measures agreed upon by representatives of the two Governments. My Government recognizes that differences will inevitably arise between even the friendliest nations, and believes that these differences must be discussed thoroughly and frankly, in order to clarify the interests and attitudes of both parties. It seems clear, therefore, that when two friendly nations are bound by treaty provisions which are not fully satisfactory to one of the parties, arrangements should be made to permit qualified representatives of both nations to discuss these points of dissatisfaction with a view to their resolution.

I have instructed the various responsible Departments and agencies of the United States Government to make a complete re-examination of our current and future needs with respect to Isthmian Canal facilities. I expect this study to be completed within a very few months, at which time my Government will communicate promptly with the Government of Panama.

I am confident that representatives of our two Governments, after a frank exchange of views and a careful assessment of our mutual needs and interests, can reach fruitful conclusions which will promote the mutual welfare of both countries.

the fedERATION Of the wEST INDIES

UNITED STATES DEFENSE AREAS IN THE FEDERATION OF THE WEST INDIES: Agreement Signed at Port-of-Spain by Representatives of the United States and the Federation of the West Indies, February 10, 1961 10

UNITED STATES INTENTION "TO ESTABLISH A MISSION ACCREDITED TO THE FEDERATION OF THE WEST INDIES": Announcement Issued by the White House, May 12, 1961 1

10

11

TIAS 4734; 12 UST 408. The agreement entered into force on date of signature. See also American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, p. 276; the Department of State Bulletin, Feb. 27, 1961, p. 311; ibid., Mar. 6, 1961, pp. 350-351; and ibid., Mar. 27, 1961, p. 465.

"White House press release dated May 12, 1961; summary in the Department of State Bulletin, June 5, 1961, p. 897. The U.S. Consulate General in Port-ofSpain was raised to a Mission July 17, 1961.

C. The Alliance for Progress and Related Developments

130. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL TASK FORCE ON LATIN AMERICA: Announcement Made by the Director of the Office of News (White), Department of State, January 31, 1961 1

1

A new interdepartmental Task Force on Latin America, under the leadership of the Department of State, has been established to consider and coordinate policies and action with respect to measures for economic and social development, maintenance of peace, and handling of related matters in the inter-American area.

The membership of the Task Force is as follows:

Adolf A. Berle, chairman, Department of State

Theodore C. Achilles, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State, Department of State

Thomas C. Mann, Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs, Department of State

John M. Leddy, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, Department of the Treasury

Lincoln Gordon, consultant, Harvard University

Haydn Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs, Department of Defense

Representatives of other departments and agencies are to be added as specific situations require.

131. UNITED STATES INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LATIN AMERICA: Statement Read by the Secretary of State (Rusk) at a News Conference, February 6, 1961 2

Perhaps I might make a comment on our interest in development in Latin America. Because of the importance and we shall have copies of these, I think, at the close-because of the importance we attach to Latin America, I should like to give you some of our thoughts on our approach to its problems. Perhaps my remarks will answer some of your questions about what we are trying to do in this field.

The problem in any consideration of Latin America is the tragedy exemplified by the recent history of Cuba; the earlier neglect of the aspirations of the Cuban people and the recent imposition of an alien ideology which is seeking to extend its dictatorial system to all of Latin America are parts of that tragedy. The peoples of Latin America have great and growing aspirations. I am confident that

1 Files of the Office of News, Department of State; modified version in the Department of State Bulletin, Feb. 27, 1961, p. 298.

The statement printed here is taken from pp. 297-299 of the Department of State Bulletin, Feb. 27, 1961 (reprint of Department of State press release No. 57).

they realize, as we do, that their aspirations can best and most rapidly be fulfilled through a system based upon freedom. There can be no doubt that the Latin American nations wish to maintain their independence of foreign domination.

The orderly progress in the solution of the basic economic problems of the hemisphere will be enhanced by the growth in the American Republics of the type of institutions which flourish under representative democracy. We are prepared to cooperate actively with the other American states to end tyranny, whether of the left or right, and to strengthen the economic and social bases of democracy. We are encouraged by the growing realization of the dangers of accepting the alien answer and of the need for a cooperative approach to the issues. These are hemispheric problems, and they require a hemispheric solution.

The efforts of the Latin Americans to mobilize their own material and human resources are essential to the success of the cooperative effort called for under the far-reaching new commitments of the Act of Bogotá. President Kennedy has recommended that the United States Congress appropriate $500 million as evidence of the deep concern of the United States and a manifestation of our willingness to cooperate in this self-help effort of the Latin American Republics.* Moreover, we will continue to assist the economic development efforts of our sister Republics of the hemisphere with technical assistance and capital investment.

The resources, both human and material, which the inter-American community can bring to bear on the development of this hemisphere are immense. While substantial amounts of what is commonly called "aid" will be necessary, we think of the problem less as one of aid than of accelerated development. What we are seeking is a major cooperative effort of all of the Americas to accelerate economic and social development to meet the legitimate aspirations of millions of people for opportunity to share in a better life-through mobilization of all resources, domestic and foreign, public and private, which can be made available for this purpose. Among the most promising activities is the growing scientific and technical exchange among the Latin American countries themselves.

We are in the fortunate position of having in existence a number of agencies already experienced in meeting various aspects of this problem. In addition to the international agencies, particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, our own ExportImport Bank, International Cooperation Administration, Development Loan Fund, Department of Agriculture, and other Federal agencies, as well as private foundations, voluntary groups, and business enterprises, are all making a substantial contribution toward the economic and social well-being of the hemisphere. However, in the new cooperative approach toward the self-help efforts called for by the Act of Bogotá, the uniquely inter-American agencies-the Inter

Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 293–299. 4 See ante, doc. 4.

American Development Bank, the Inter-American Economic and Social Council, the Pan American Sanitary [Health] Organization, and specialized agencies of the Organization of American States-are expected to play an increasingly important role. Full and coordinated use must be made of the knowledge, experience, and facilities of all of the agencies available.

The importance which this administration attaches to these and other hemispheric problems is reflected by the establishment of the special Interdepartmental Task Force under the leadership of Mr. Adolf Berle. It will be the work of this especially well-qualified group to give intensive attention to the problems of the area in order that they can be translated into opportunities for constructive action. And of course our efforts in this area are affected by the work which is now going on to consider ways and means of reorganizing and rationalizing our various aid and investment programs in the interest of maximum effective efficiency.

MEASURES TAKEN TO STEP UP FOOD-FOR-PEACE PROGRAMS IN LATIN AMERICA-ADJUSTMENT OF UNITED STATES AND ARGENTINE EXPORTS TO BRAZILIAN CONSUMPTION: Announcement Issued by the White House, February 8, 1961 €

132. ALIANZA PARA PROGRESO: Address by the President (Kennedy) at a White House Reception for Latin American Diplomats and Members of Congress, March 13, 1961 (Excerpt)?

Throughout Latin America-a continent rich in resources and in the spiritual and cultural achievements of its people-millions of men and women suffer the daily degradations of hunger and poverty. They lack decent shelter or protection from disease. Their children are deprived of the education or the jobs which are the gateway to a better life. And each day the problems grow more urgent. Population growth is outpacing economic growth, low living standards are even further endangered, and discontent-the discontent of a people who know that abundance and the tools of progress are at last within their reach-that discontent is growing. In the words of José Figueres,

5 See supra.

'White House press release dated Feb. 8, 1961; the Department of State Bulletin, Feb. 27, 1961, p. 312.

'White House press release dated Mar. 13, 1961; text as delivered (Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 3, 1961, pp. 471-474).