The Secretary of State (Hull) to the Panamanian Ambassador (Boyd) EXCELLENCY: DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON I understand from the debate in the Senate of the United States yesterday on the treaties signed with Panama, March 2, 1936, that the question was raised as to whether the Assembly of Panama had the notes and minutes of the treaty negotiations before it at the time the treaties were considered and ratified by that body. I shall thank you to advise me definitely as to whether the notes and minutes of the negotiations were before the Assembly of Panama and were thoroughly understood and considered by the Assembly in connection with its ratification of the aforesaid treaties. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. His Excellency Señor Dr. DON AUGUSTO S. BOYD, CORDELL HULL Ambassador of Panama The Panamanian Ambassador (Boyd) to the Secretary of State (Hull) EMBAJADA DE PANAMA WASHINGTON EXCELLENCY: I am in receipt of Your Excellency's note of this date in which you state that you understand from the debate in the Senate of the United States yesterday on the Treaties with Panama signed March 2, 1936, that the question was raised whether the Assembly of Panama had the notes and minutes of the treaty negotiations before it at the time the treaties were considered and ratified by that body. I think that the best answer I may give to Your Excellency is to transcribe textually, in translation, law No. 37 of 1936 which was passed by our Assembly on the twenty-fourth of December, 1936, and which reads as follows: The National Assembly of Panama Decrees Only article: there are hereby approved and ratified in all their parts the General Treaty, the Radio Communications Convention, the Convention on the Transfer of the stations of La Palma and Puerto Obaldía and the Convention on the Trans-Isthmian Highway, signed in the city of Washington, March 2, 1936, by plenipotentiaries of the Governments of the Republic of Panama and of the United States of America, which is done taking into account the Minutes and the Exchanges of Notes signed on the same date and which contain interpretations and explanations of certain important aspects of the General Treaty and of the Conventions aforementioned. From the law quoted above Your Excellency will observe that the minutes and the notes were before the Assembly and were considered and understood by it at the same time that the Assembly ratified the Treaty and Conventions above mentioned. Accept, Excellency, the sentiments of my highest consideration. His Excellency CORDELL HULL, Secretary of State. AUGUSTO S. BOYD [NOTE.-The above treaty was signed at Washington March 2, 1936; ratification advised by the Senate of the United States July 25, 1939; ratified by the President of the United States July 26, 1939; ratified by Panama July 17, 1939; ratifications exchanged at Washington July 27, 1939; proclaimed by the President of the United States July 27, 1939.] (Whereupon, at 1:10 p. m., the hearings on appropriations for the War Department-Civil Functions were concluded.) INDEX A Page American citizenship for certain employees in the Canal Zone- Amendments requested by the War Department. American Federation of Government Employees__ American Federation of Teachers, Local No. 227, Balboa, C. Z. Archibald, Walter... Arkansas Valley, limit of flood-control authorization in.... Bill to increase authorization___ 1-3 239 2, 3, 22, 24, 31, 111, 208, 224 208 24 187, 190 211, 212 85, 257, 258 . 261 B Barrett, O. Slack. Bone, Hon. Homer T. 209 177 Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, Oreg- Building and Construction Trades Department, American Federation of Agriculture Department, increase in funds for cooperation with 75, 88, 90, 98, 103, 145, 209, 211, 256 Construction operations, 1941, effect of reduced appropriation on 86 150 211 181, 183 Emergency flood control on tributaries other than those of Mis- Estimate allowed for.. 186 Increase in appropriation requested for. 146, 148, 152, 153, 160, 163, 191 Ohio Valley, flood control in.... Projects: Allocation of funds for: 101, 257 209 Allocation of funds based on a $25,000,000 increase_ Canton, Okla.. Cincinnati, Ohio. 98 94 90 102, 105 101 152 99 99 291 Manford, Okla Land obtained for projects becoming nontaxable, question Limitation in bill on amount available for projects on New projects proposed under House 10-percent recommen- 187 101, 257 87, 259 101 256,257 146 77 192 100, 256, 257 153 164 181, 183 Sacramento River, flood control on 77 82 80, 84 Levees, repair of Provision in bill for.. Reclamation Bureau project at Taxes, question as to increasing- Ten percent of funds for new projects under bill as passed by Hydroelectric power_. Bonneville Dam, Columbia River, Oreg- 85, 100, 255, 257 76, 77, 259 169, 213 169, 179, 213 213 169, 176 213 Limitation by House on number of units_ - Unemployment, effect of project on.. Amount that can be profitably expended_ Budget estimate, additional, question as to request for Foundations for units 7-10, increased appropriation needed Reasons for putting in at this time foundations for units Grand Coulee, power available from_ Interconnecting transmission line, construction of.. Materials used, source of.. Power, market for additional.. Extent of power capacity. Present sale of power- Revenue from project, estimated_ Public power districts. - Rates, fixing of.. Rivers and Harbors Amendment requested by War Department. Appropriations and expenditures on, 1925-40- Canals, operation and care of Decreasing appropriation for, effect of_-- Corps of Engineers-Continued. Rivers and Harbors-Continued. Expenditure on rivers and harbors between mouth of Missouri and Page Minneapolis- 194 Additional allocations based on an increase of $25,000,000__ 97 95 Allocation of funds that can be profitably expended, 1941.- 206, 255 199 Guyandotte Flood Wall Association, Huntington, W. Va. H Hay-Pauncefote Treaty, obligation of United States under- 255 161 47 229 Hayden, Hon. Carl 77-78, 105, 224 |