Torrijos - Carter Treaty



         


The Torrijos-Carter Treaties (sometimes referred to in the singular as the Torrijos-Carter Treaty), are a pair of treaties signed by the United States and Panama in Washington, D. C. on September 7, 1977, abrogating the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty signed in 1903. The treaties are named after the two signatories , U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos. Torrijos was not democratically elected, having taken power in a coup in 1968, but is generally considered to have had widespread support in Panama for the signing of the treaties.

This first treaty is officially called The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, commonly referred to as the Neutrality Treaty. Under this treaty, the U.S. retains the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its continued neutral service to ships of all nations. The second treaty is called The Panama Canal Treaty. It is this treaty which insured that after the year 2000, Panama would assume full control of canal operations and become primarily responsible for its defense.

Both treaties were subsequentlty ratified in Panama by two-thirds majority in a plebiscite held on October 23. The neutrality treaty was of major concern in Panama and was one reason why the treaties failed to obtain even greater popular support there. In the United States, the Senate ratified the first treaty on March 16, 1978 and the second treaty on April 18.

The treaties were the source of some controversy in the United States, particularly among conservatives such as Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms who regarded it as the surrender of a strategic American asset to a hostile government. In the year preceding the final transfer of canal assets, there was an effort in the United States Congress, notably House Joint Resolution 77 introduced by Helen Chenoweth-Hage, to declare the Carter-Torrijos treaties null and void. Despite the fact that the pullout of the United States is now complete, there are still organizations (primarily on the far right of American political spectrum, such as the John Birch Society) that urge the United States to declare the treaty null and void. Support of HJR 77 was part of the 2000 platform of the Texas Republican Party, but no longer appears in the 2004 platform.

The Panama Canal Treaty laid out a timetable for the transfer of the canal, leading to a complete handover of all lands and buildings in the canal area to Panama. The most immediate consequence of this treaty was that the Canal Zone, as an entity, ceased to exist on October 1, 1979. The final phase of the treaty was completed on December 31, 1999. On this date, the United States relinquished control of the Panama Canal and all areas in what had been the Panama Canal Zone.

The groundwork for these treaties was laid in 1974, with an eight point declaration signed in Panama City by the American Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and the Panamanian Foreign Minister Juan Antonio Tack. Nevertheless, Panamanian efforts to renegotiate the original Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty, had been ongoing almost since it was first signed in November of 1903, a few weeks after Panama obtained its independence from Colombia. However, activity to renegotiate or abrogate the treaty increased considerably after events in 1964 precipitated a complete breakdown in relations between the U.S. and Panama. Indeed on January 9 of that year hostile Panamanian crowds attempted to enter the Canal Zone area, in protest against what Panamanians perceived as an attack by Canal Zone Police on Panamanian students who had participated in a flag-raising event in the Canal Zone. Widespread rioting ensued, during which over 20 Panamanians were killed and about 500 were injured. Most of the casualties were caused by fire from U. S. troops, who had been called in to protect Canal Zone property, including private residences of (mainly American) Canal Zone employees. However, the U. S. military later provided evidence that some shots were fired from buildings in Panama outside U. S. control, which could also have been responsible for some of the casualties.

The next day, January 10, Panama broke off diplomatic relations with the United States and on January 15, the President of Panama, Roberto Chiari declared that Panama would not reestablish diplomatic ties with the United States, until the United States agreed to begin negotiations on a new treaty. The first steps in that direction were taken shortly thereafter on April 3, 1964 when both countries agreed to an immediate resumption of diplomatic relations and the United States agreed to adopt procedures for the "elimination of the causes of conflict between the two countries". A few weeks later, Robert B. Anderson, President Lyndon Johnson's special representative flew to Panama to pave the way for future talks.

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