U.S. Would Discuss Panama Treaty

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 15

U.S. Would Discuss Panama Treaty

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 24. President Johnson, discussing the Panama Canal crisis at an informal press conference yesterday, said the United States was prepared to discuss with Panama any question which either side wanted to raise.

He said the United States was prepared to do this 30 days after relations between the two countries were restored.

Each Government, he said, would be free to raise any issue and take any position it wanted. Tire United States would consider all prac'.i.al solutions to practical problems that were offered in good faith. The President thus made *t clear that the United States would agree to discuss the Panama Canal Treaty itself, which Panama wants to renegotiate.

Speaking before reporters and cameras hurrir " - set up in a White House conference room, he said the United States had not set any conditions for file resumption of peaceful contacts with Panama- The United States

also had no preconceptions of what new talks would produce and he hoped that Panama could take the same approach. The President said no purpose would be served by rehashing recent or ancient events involving the Par._.na Canal. There had been excesses and errors by both Americans and Panamanians. Earlier this month, be said, the actions of imprudent students from both countries had played into the hands of agitators who were seeking to divide them. The State Department has expressed willingness to resume United States aid programmes in Panama if the Panamanian Government guarantees the safety and freedom of travel of Americans involved in the operation.