DIP NOTE RECEIVED FROM GOP RE: ACCESS TO NATIONAL

UNCLAS PANAMA 001781 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA GREGORY SCHIFFER PANAMA DESK SENSITIVE E/O 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PM POL CHIEF SUBJECT: DIP NOTE RECEIVED FROM GOP RE: ACCESS TO NATIONAL ARCHIVE MATERIAL ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See Para 3. ¶2. (U) Following is an unofficial translation of a Diplomatic Note received by the Panama Embassy's Political Section regarding a request for a document from the National Archives in Washington, DC. BEGIN UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION REPUBLIC OF PANAMA Ministry of Foreign Relations -------------- PANAMA 4, PANAMA DGPE/DAAO/No.263-05 The Ministry of Foreign Relations - Department of Africa, Asia and Oceania presents its compliments to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America on the occasion of requesting its good offices to obtain from the Department of State of the United States of America documentation that is explained below. The legation of Panama in Madrid, which was headed by Mr. Antonio Burgos, in 1915, a few months before the beginning of World War I, received a secret project of Treaty allegedly presented by Japan. In view of this action, Minister Burgos traveled to Washington, D.C. to hold talks with the Secretary of State to share what was received and for the corresponding investigations to be carried out. At the general archive of the Ministry of Foreign Relations there is only a photostatic copy of the presented project and a note about what was carried out in Washington. A copy of the project is enclosed. The Ministry of Foreign Relations - Department of Africa, Asia and Oceania, with the purpose of completing the corresponding historic file, will appreciate the donation of a copy of the documentation processed by the Department of State on this matter. The Ministry of Foreign Relations - Department of Africa, Asia and Oceania avails itself of the occasion to reiterate to the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest and distinguished consideration. Panama, August 22, 2005 To the Honorable EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Panama City END UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION ¶3. (SBU) Embassy recommends replying to the Foreign Ministry to the effect that Panamanian embassy officials in Washington are free to search the archives in Washington to locate and copy the document. Embassy requests Department to identify the address of the archives building most likely to contain said document and to inform Embassy of its views on Embassy's recommendation. ARREAGA