Joint Group To Watch On Panama

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30338, 14 January 1964, Page 11

Joint Group To Watch On Panama

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PANAMA CITY, January 13. . The United States and Panama had agreed in principle on a joint authority to keep peace along the strife-torn Canal Zone border, diplomatic sources said today. The peace-keeping authority would be composed of two officials from the United States, two from Panama, and one designated by the Organisation of American States, the informants said.

Technical details of of the authority were still being hammered out at a late-night session of the five-man peace delegation from the O.A.S. Mr Rodolfo Weidmann, Argentine member of the O.A.S. mission, made the proposal for the special joint body.

United States military authorities yesterday denied that United States troops would withdraw from the border as reported by the Organisation of American States peace mission. One United States official told Reuter, however, that “by and large, United States troops are not in sight of the Border Zone now.” As rapidly as law and order were restored, the plac-

ing of United States troops in the zone would return to normal, he said. He did not elaborate. United States Army headquarters in the Canal Zone, officially denying the reports that the Panamanian National Guard was replacing American troops at the zone border, said American troops were in full command of the zone inside the border. Tighter Security The Panamanian National Guard, assisted by students, appears to be tightening security measures to stop demonstrations near the Canal Zone border. Cars entering the centre of the city near the border last night were stopped by guardsmen and searched for arms. Some streets leading to Fourth of July avenue were blocked by large pieces of concrete or lines of students. Earlier in the evening, an

American living in the International Hotel, which overlooks the troubled border area, told Reuter he heard several shots Mid smelled tear-gas. but the area was later cleared of demonstrators. Working<lass Panamanians said they were without meat, milk and other perishables in their homes. Although grocery stores have been open while most other businesses have been closed during the crisis, there has been a shortage of perishable foodstuffs. Panamanian snipers opened fire on United States troops in the Canal Zone yesterday and also attacked in Colon with rifles and petrol bombs. A Panamanian National Guardsman was killed and another wounded in an apparently mistaken exchange of gunfire with United States troops. A third Panamanian died of a heart attack In this incident.

Anti-American feelings remained inflamed when a funeral procession for 12 youths killed earlier in the rioting wound through Panama City. "U.S. Not Leaving” The Secretary of State (Mr Rusk) said yesterday that the United States would not withdraw from the Panama Canal Zone or give up its military base there. However, Mr Rusk said, all parties involved, including President Roberto Chiari of Panama, agreed that “the first order of business is the restoration of peace.” President Chiari has demanded renegotiation of the 1903 treaty by which the United States has rights “in perpetuity” in the Canal Zone, and the Panamanian Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Aquilino Boyd, demanded at the Security Council on Friday that the United States give up the canal. Mr Rusk said the United States was disposed to discuss the terms of its presence in the Canal Zone, and noted two agreements in 1936 and 1955—by which the United States liberalised the 1903 treaty, but he said practical problems could not be resolved in the present atmosphere of violence. In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, university and high school students yesterday set fire to a United States flag during a street demonstration in support of the students of Panama. Police dispersed the group of about 150 students when they tried to picket the United States Embassy.

Income Figures (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 12. The gross income in 1963 of the Panama Canal Company, a United States Government corporation, was 103 million dollars. Government officials said today. The net income was 2,300.000 dollars. For several years, the net income has been used on improvements to the canal. The United States Government pays Panama 1,930,000 dollars a year “annuity.”