The Panama Canal and Social Justice. INSTITUTION United States Catholic Conference, Washington, D.C
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DOCUMENT RESUME 'ED 142 474 SO 010 169 AUTHOR Wilde, margaret D., Ed. TITLE The Panama Canal and Social Justice. INSTITUTION United States Catholic Conference, washington, D.C. PUB DATE Oct 76 NOTE 33p. AVAILABLE FRCM Office of International Justice and Peace, United States Catholic Conference, 1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005 ($0.50 paper cover) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.83 HC-$2.06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adult Education; Catholics; Christianity; *Church Responsibility; Conferences; *Developing Nations; Discussion Groups; Foreign Policy; International Organizations; *International Relations; Justice; *Moral Issues; National Organizations; Secondary Education; Study Guides; *Treaties IDENTIFIERS Panama Canal kBSTRACT The booklet, designed to explore the issues of international justice in the context of the Gospel, reviews relations between the United States and Panama. It includes background materials and a study guide for parish leaders and other educators. The central question pertaining to the Panama Canal concerns the rights of the United States according to the 1903 treaty. This treaty states that the United States can exercise "in perpetuity" power and authority over the ten-mile strip of land along the Canal route. The question over these rights is addressed to those who believe Christians have a valid contribution to make in regard to national and international policymaking. This issue was chosen because it represents a test of how a large and a small nation can relate in an interdependent world, and also because churches in both countries can facilitate debate in and between the two nations. The issue has substantial moral content; the treaty not only restricts Panama as an agent in its own development, but also detrimentally affects its economy. The moral challenge for churches is to see that the test is one of justice rather than one of power. Statements by both U.S. and Panamanian clerygymen, a play, study guide, and summaries of both sides of the argument are included in the text. Statements issued by conferences of both countries and a general statement by the Delegation of National Council of Churches are reproduced in appendices. Books, voluntary organizations, and names of government spokesmen are listed in the bibliography. (KC) Documents acquired by ERIC include many informal unpublished materials not available from other sources. ERIC makes every effort to obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, items of marginal reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality of the microfiche and hardcopy reproductions ERIC makes available via the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS). EDRS is not responsible for the quality of the original document. Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original. Efirn U.S OE PARTMENT OFHEALTH. EOUCATION L WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HASBEEN REPRO. DUCED EXACTLY ASRECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN ATING IT POINTS OFVIEW OR OPINIONS STA TED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF It EDUCATION POSITION ORPOLICY PEAMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS COPY. RIGHTED MATERIAL HAS SEEN GRANTED BY Jãie-e 2e11-11111_ TO ERIC AND ORGANIflTI0NS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE NATIONAL IN- STITUTE OF EDUCATION FURTHER REPRO- DUCTION OUTSIDE THE ERIC SYSTEM RE- QIJIRRS PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNEFI" II J Margaretil.Wilde, editor. ON \.. **N. October 1976 of International Justice and Peace ,..N. United States Catholic Conference VQiOffice1312. Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 IS. 50¢ 2 CONTENTS page INTRODUCTION 4 CHAPTERS 1. The Current State of the Question 5 The Rev. J. Bryan Hehir 2.The Penarna Canal: A Test Case 8 The Most Rev. Marcos G. McGrath, C.S.C. 3.Yankee Doodle Over There (a one-act play) 12 James R. Jennings 4. The U.S. National Interest: Highlights of the Debate 18 James R. Jennings 5. A Challenge to North American Churches (study guide) 20 Margaret D. Wilde APPENDICES A A Summary of Past and Present Treaties 24 B.Interim Agreements 26 C. Panama-U.S. Relations 28 Administrative Board U.S. Catholic Conference 28 D. A Declaration 29 Fanamanian Bishops Conference 29 E. A Statement 30 Delegation of the National Council of Churches 30 BIBLIOGRAPHY/RESOURCES INTRODUCTION Do Christians have a valid contribution to make in and Christian ethics more faithfully than can any the realm of national and international policymaking, individual Christian. not aspolitical and economic experts but as Chris- It is hoped that most readers will come to this book- tians? let as members of a cominunity of faith, that is, as a This book is addressed to those who believe we do. group that shares basic principles of Christian ethics, The btirden of proof is on us, in a world of increasing and that within that community each one's perceptions technical specialization and deference to expertise. In of the situation described here will be enriched and dis- ordertomerit respectfor an informed, prophetic tilled into a Christian perspective on the issue. Christian viewpoint on political and social issues, we The Panama Canal and Social Justice is Rub fished must show ourselves capable of considering the facts by the U.S. Catholic Conference, which has adopted some of which are unclear and the subject of per- a position on the Panama Canal issue: The position sistent debate among expertsin the light of Scripture supports neither the extreme of Panamanian national- and the Christian faith, and suggesting practical, real- ism nor that of full U.S. sovereignty_over the Canal istic courses of action. Zone, but recommends a new treaty involving major We propose to take the Panama Canal issue as a concessions of controlto Panama. That positionis test case: to study the facts set forth on both sides, reproduced in Appendix C. Other appendices include and to see whether it is possible to arrive at a position statements by the Panamanian bishops and the Na- that does justice to the legitimate interests of all con- tional Council of Churches of Christ which represent cerned, according to our Christian interpretation of many U.S. Protestant churches. It is significant that all justict three groups, despite differences in nationality and Th Tg.booklet is designed as a resource for group dis- creed, have independently reached essentially the same cussion. "A Challenge to U.S. Christians," chapter 5, position after long study and discussion of the issue. suggests guidelines for that process. It is based on the This booklet has been compiled from that view- beliefthatthe church, as community of faith, by point;it does not claim to take a wholly impartial bringing a diversity of interpretations and experience view. We have, however J. Bryan Hehir and James R. to the issue at hand, can reflect the light of Scripture Jennings who contributed interpretive materials, and I as editortried to reflect both sides fully and faithfully. Margaret D. Wilde 4 4 CHAPTER THE CURRENT STATE OF THE QUESTION The Rev. J. Bryan Hehir The basic problem: to renegotiate the current treaty Appendix B.) Briefly stated, the principles call for the over the Panama Canal or to let it stand as itis. The following elements in a new treaty: author, J. Bryan Hehir, is Associate Secretary of the Elimination of the "in perpetuity" provision; Office of International Justice arid Peace of the U.S. Termination of U.S. exercise of sovereignty and Catholic Conference: He outlines the moral reasons jurisdiction in the Canal Zone, with the United why Catholic leaders in this country have come out in States granted rights,facilities and territoryas favorofrenegotiationandforeseestragicconse- ire,Ided to operate and defend the Canal during the quences if it is not done. life of the treaty; Background of the Issue -0,IncreasingPanamanianparticipationinopera- ticn and defense of the Canal with eventual re- The renegotiation of the 1903 "..reaty between the version of operation and control of the Canal to United States and Panama has become an issue of Panama at the end of the treaty; domestic politics in the United States, with suktantial opposition expressed in Congress aild in ,311%.. sectors A just and equitable shaH of the economic, bene- of public opinion. fits from the Canal to be acctorded to Panama:*:,,,. The Hay/Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903, revised in. As described by U.S. negotiator, Ambassador Ells- 1936 and 1955, granted the United States the righ: to worth Bunker, the negotiation prous envisioned a build, operate and defend a canal across the Isthmus three-step movement: 1) the determination of princi- of Panama and to exercise "in perpetuity," the power ples, which was achieved in the Kissinger-Tack agree- and authority "which the United States would possess ment; 2) discussion of conceptual issues grouped un- and exercise if it were sovereign" in a strip of land ten der the principles;and 3) determination oftreaty miles wide along the Canal route. (S..e Appendix A.) language.1 The discussion of conceptual issues has The purpose of a new treaty would be to abrogee proceeded from 1974 to the present. Two authoritative the "in perpetuity" clause and to establish a new busis but incomplete accounts have been made public re- of cooperation between the United States and Panama, garding the status ofthe discussion of conceptual in which the Panamanian exercise of sovereignty in the issues: Canal Zone would be clear in theory and practice. The 1) Ambassador Bunker stated on September 15, treaty would cover a defined period, at the end of 1975, that conceptual agreement had been reached on which Panama would take over the maintenance and Panamanian participationinthe operation ofthe operation of the Canal. Canal, defense of the Canal, and certain aspects of The United States indicated a willingness, in princi- jurisdiction."Conceptual agreement has yettobe ple, to renegotiate the treaty through President Lyndon reached on economic benefits, the land and waterways B.