last sentence of the paragraph as has been done in the quotation below.
If the foregoing is taken into consideration, as well as the agreement
expressed in the first sentence of the Department's telegram no. 245
of April 9, 1942; namely, that the section in Article VIII referring to
the maintenance of roads should be general and include all roads, then
it is the Department's understanding that paragraph four of Article
VIII of the defense site agreement as amended would read as follows:
  "Upon the completion of these highways the Government of the
United States will assume the responsibility for any necessary post
construction operations, that is, the performance of work necessary to
protect the original construction until such time as the roads become
stabilized. The respective responsibilities of the two Governments
with respect to the execution of subsequent repairs and maintenance
of these roads as well as all Panamanian roads used periodically or
frequently by the armed forces of the United States shall be de-
termined by the appropriate authorities of the two Governments, it
being understood that the United States will bear one third of the
total annual maintenance costs in order to cover the expense of any
wear or damage to roads caused by movements related to defense ac-
tivities as set forth below."
  Please ascertain whether this phraseology is acceptable to the Pan-
amanian authorities.
  Very truly yours,                   For the Secretary of State:
                                                  SUMNER WE1ZES


711F.1914/466: Telegram
   The Ambassador in Panama (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
                                      PANAMAX, May 2,1942-9 a. m.
                                             [Received 2: 08 p. m.]
  409. For Under Secretary. Reference your 325, April 29, 9 p. m.36
I am happy to say that thanks to the Department's very helpful
telegram No. 321, April 28, 9 p. m., I have reached complete agree-
ment with the Foreign Minister on the defense site agreement.
  Full report by air mail today 37 which will be in the Department
tomorrow. One point only departs from telegram number 321,
namely that the lease for Rio Hato is to be of the same duration as that
for the other defense sites. I consider this entirely satisfactory and
request Department's early approval of this and of various points of
procedure mentioned in my despatch of today.
  I believe you need have but little concern over the Taboga ques-
tion. The President considers that the conditions covering this lease,
reported in my despatch, and which have been accepted by the Com-
mandant of the 15th Naval District will enable him to handle it satis-
  26Not printed.
  M Despatch No. 2089, May 2, not printed.



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