A Study Of The Negotiation Process Of A New Panama Canal Treaty During The Johnson Administration

Since the United States and Panama signed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty,the United States began a long occupation of the panama canal.For this reason,Panama has been fighting for the sovereignty of the Canal for more than half a century.On January 9,1964,Panama broke out a large-scale demonstration because American students refused to fly the Panamanian flag at Balboa High School.After that,Chiari asked the United States to "negotiate" a new treaty,but Johnson firmly opposed negotiations under the pressure of violence and breakdown of relations,which led to a long-standing stalemate in the talks between the United States and Panama.Later,under the pressure of domestic and foreign situations,Johnson issued a major joint statement on December 18,announcing that the United States was willing to negotiate a new treaty with panama.After two and a half years of arduous negotiations,the United States and Panama finally drafted three draft treaties on 26 June 1967: the Panama Canal Treaty,the Sea Level Canal Treaty and the Panama Canal Defence and Neutrality Treaty(collectively known as the 1967 Treaty).However,due to the criticism of opposition forces in both countries and the influence of the change of government,the draft was not submitted to the congress for approval.Although the Johnson administration did not fail to sign a new treaty with panama,but still efforts during this period have important meaning.On the one hand,make more than half a century of bitterness and friction between the U.S.and Panama to resolve;on the other hand,unveiled for 13 years,the panama canal negotiation process of the new treaty,Carter in 1977 finally signed a new the panama canal treaty set the basic framework.