LETTER TO GENERAL GEORGE V. UNDERWOOD FROM PHILLIP HARMAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001900050015-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: November 4, 1972
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/07/29 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R001900050015-5
Nov. 4th, 1972
General George V. Underwood, U.S. Army
Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command
Quarry Heights, Canal Zone
Dear General Underwood:
I read with a great deal of regret that you are retiring on January
31st and that you have been ill. I do want to wish you a very speedy
recovery.
STAT
Being the grandson-in-law of the founder of the Republic of Panama and
knowing Panama well, I have been devoting all of my time and. efforts in
exposing Omar Torrijos and the Communist Party of Panama by informing
Congress, both the Senate and the House, the Executive Branch, the Depart-
ment of State, the Pentagon, and others about Torrijos' close ties
with Cuba and Moscow in their objective of trying to gain control over
the sovereignty of the U.S. Canal Zone.
As General Creighton Abrams was recently appointed. Chief of Staff, I am
enclosing a copy of a letter that I sent him as well as a copy of a letter
that I sent to Dr. Henry Kissinger about events in Panama. In my letter
to Dr. Kissinger, I wanted to remind him what President Eisenhower did
for): ? the people of Guatemala when he ordered :Allen Dulles of the CIA to
intervene and help the people of Guatemala to overthrow the leftist
dictatorship of Colonel Arbenz. It was a great and bold step by President
Eisenhower and the people of Guatemala were so very appreciative of what
he did for them. I only wish, and so do the people of Panama, that
President Nixon would issue a similar order to Richard Helms so that
democracy and free speech would be returned to the people of Panama and
to the country that President Teddy Roosevelt created in 1903 with the
help of my grandfather-in-law.
Although the Panamanians cannot express themselves because they would be
shot, imprisoned, or deported as your intelligence knows so very well,
they know the situation is ten -times worst with Torrijos at the helm
than the Guatemala situation of 1954 with Arbenz. Moreover, if the people.
of Panama can restore their friendly constitutional government of
President Arnulfo Arias and his pro-American ,cabinet, they know that
President Arias would, not ask for the closing of the military bases and
the other demands that Torri jos is demanding, and threatening for. I. can
say with all sincerity that President Arias knows that the security of
the Canal and the Western hemisphere depends upon the strength and presence
0: . "'. ~'.?-1'?. ` e c 1 State a in he I ; t4^ 1us of ai^ lZil`3
With my warmest regards and I know that President arias joins me in wishing
you and your family every good wish and Godspeed.
Most cordially yours,
_Phiili-c I-1-- rmzqan
Approved For Release 2003/07/29 : CIA-RDP8bR01731 R001900050015-5