"We Have Two Ways to Go"

Soon after canal negotiators reached agreement last week, Panama's strongman, Brigadier General Omar Torrijos Herrera, lunched at his Pacific Coast hideaway known as Farallon (meaning "small rocky island in the sea ") with TIME Correspondent Jerry Hannifin. Following a meal of sancocho (Panama's national soup) and hot chili sauce, Torrijos offered the following comments:

On the forthcoming U.S. treaty debate I know that President Carter now has a difficult mission, but I am also confident that the moral force of what is right will prevail. When your people are informed of the truth, they will come to know the injustice that was done here some 70 years ago, simply to provide passage for a U.S. merchant fleet. The American people are a moral people, and when they learn the size of the injustice, I believe they will support the new treaty.

On his personal commitment to a new treaty I was a major in 1964, and the orders came to squeeze the [demonstrating] students between the U.S. military and the [Panamanian] guard, and I was ashamed. We used sticks on children. And I could do nothing. I began to think. I decided to do something for my people, to lead the decolonization of Panama.

On inviting hemisphere leaders to the treaty signing Carter likes the idea. So do I. He hasn't yet formally accepted. Other chiefs of state have responded informally, yes. It would be good for them to be here to witness the signing.

On waiting until the year 2000 for canal control We have two ways to go: either the slow way, over a generation, or by liberation war, which would be quicker, with a high price in blood--the lives of 50,000 young Panamanians. We prefer the treaty. If the United States does not keep its treaty pledges during the time ahead, then there surely will be trouble. The treaty must be observed. We shall observe it, and we expect the U.S. to do the same.

On Panamanian support for the treaty I shall ask every person to vote, to express himself on the new treaty. We already have begun the massive registration of every Panamanian. It is true that I would prefer a generation of Castristas [Castro-types] to a generation of castrados [castrated ones]. They may vote no, but I want them to vote. I have faith that my people will vote for the right thing.

On the possibility of a new sea-level canal That's one of the hardest points to answer, for us to give the U.S. a concession to build another canal. For sure, there would be no colonial enclave to go with such a new canal. The treaty will say that we will discuss the possibility of a new sea-level canal if it is in the joint interest of the world community to build it. But my personal opinion is that a sea-level canal is not necessary. Such a canal would be excessively costly, and you can't build it in two weeks either. We don't want it--even wrapped in plastic.

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