A petition to Congressman/Senator __________________________________.

We, the undersigned, as your constituents, protest the illegal transfer of the Panama Canal. Indeed, irregularities in both the language and ratification process of the 1977 Carter-Torrijos treaties, which initiated the transfer, render them null and void. And there are obvious national security reasons why we should not allow this illegal transfer that effectively gives control of the Canal to Red China. Historic and legal justification for H.J. Res. 77, which declares the treaties null and void, is amply demonstrated by the text of the resolution itself.

However, we apprise you of the following points:

• The transfer of the U.S.-built canal to the government of Panama represents a grave threat to U.S. national security, because:

1) In 1997, Panama secretly turned over the American-built port facility at Balboa, which controls shipping on the Pacific side, and at Cristobal, which controls shipping on the Atlantic side, to Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong — a company controlled by the Red Chinese government. Our leaders are also turning over Rodman Naval Station, Howard Air Force Base, and other important military facilities to Panama, which has given Hutchison an option on these bases.

2) The above actions prompted Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN (Ret.), former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to state: "This means that very soon we could see Communist China in control of one of the world’s most strategic waterways in our own backyard."

• As stated in H. J. Res. 77: "[I]n their respective instruments of ratification, the United States and Panama did not agree to the same text of the treaties, and, in fact, each party stipulated to conditions that are in fundamental conflict with, and mutually exclusive of, the demands of the other…," thus rendering the 1977 treaties between the U.S. and Panama invalid.

• Despite this invalidity, the executive branch of our government has proceeded nonetheless to turn over both the Canal and other strategic facilities in the Canal Zone to the government of Panama. We must reclaim the Panama Canal!

• The 1903 Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty between the United States and Panama — which gave the U.S. sovereignty in perpetuity over the Canal and the Canal Zone — has never been properly terminated and is, therefore, still legally in force.

Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens of the United States, do hereby petition you, as a member of Congress, to co-sponsor H. J. Res. 77, "The Panama and America Security Act," and to use every effort to bring this measure to an early vote. (Senators should introduce and/or support an identical resolution in the Senate.) And, furthermore, we petition you to use the powers of Congress to insist that the Executive branch of government conform to the Constitution, the law, and the will of Congress in this matter.

Respectfully,

Send completed petitions to:

(Your Congressman), House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
(Your Senators), Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

For further documentation or to order more petitions visit www.jbs.org/canal/