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1 The Meaning of the New Panama Canal Treaties 1 (1977)

handle is hein.ustreaties/menewpc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: lhe Department
of State
Selected Documents                             No. 6C                Bureau of Public Affairs
January 1978          Office of Media Services
The Meaning of the New Panama Canal Treaties
To the Senate of the United States:
I transmit herewith, for the purpose of receiving the advice and
consent of the Senate to ratification, the Panama Canal Treaty and the
Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the
Panama Canal which I signed on behalf of the United States at the
headquarters of the Organization of American States on September 7,
1977. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of
the Department of State with respect to those Treaties.
When ratified, the Treaties will establish new arrangements for
operating and defending the Panama Canal, and for ensuring its con-
tinuing neutrality and accessibility to all shipping. These objectives will
be achieved through a new, cooperative relationship between the
United States and Panama under which the United States will continue
to operate the Canal until December 31, 1999. After this period of
preparation, Panama will assume control of Canal operations, with the
United States sharing permanent responsibility for maintaining the
Canal's neutrality.
The Treaties serve the essential interest of the United States in an
efficient and safe Canal. They permit a new relationship with Panama
based on friendship and mutual respect. Moreover, they remove a major
obstacle to the betterment of our relations with the countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean area, and will substantially improve our
standing with other nations, particularly those of the developing world.
I believe that these Treaties are fair to both countries, consistent
with our heritage, and right for our times. They protect United States
interests in the Panama Canal for the future better than the 1903
Convention which they will replace. Undue delay in ratification could
cause serious problems for our foreign relations and jeopardize our
long-term interests in the Canal and in the Hemisphere. Accordingly, I
urge the Senate to give these Treaties early and favorable consideration.
-Jimmy Carter
The White House
September 16, 1977

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