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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
CONSIDERING THAT:
The Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal was signed at Washington on September 7, 1977, the text of which is hereto annexed;
The Senate of the United States of America by its resolution of March.16, 1978, two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein,
gave its advice and consent to ratification of the Neutrality Treaty, subject to the following:
(a) AMENDMENTS:
(1) At the end of Article IV, insert the following:
"A correct and authoritative statement of certain
rights and duties of the Parties under the foregoing is
contained in the Statement of Understanding issued by the Government of the United States of America on October 14, 1977, and by the Government of the Republic of Panama on
October 18, 1977;[] which i's hereby incorporated as an
integral part of this Treaty, as follows:
"'Under the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality
and operation of the Panama Canal (the Neutrality Treaty),
Panama and the United States have the responsibility to assure that the Panama Canal will remain open and secure to ships of all nations. The correct interpretation of
this principle is that each of' the -two countries shall, in accordance with their respective constitutional processes,
defend the Canal against any threat to the regime of
neutrality, and consequently shall have the right to act
against any aggression or threat directed against the
Canal or against the peaceful transit of vessels through
the Canal.
IF-or joint Statement of Understanding, see Depart ment of State Bulletin, Nov. 7, 1977, p. 631.

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