Reading Room Document

Representation of the Government of Panama by a Former Department of State Official in Connection with Proposed Legislation to Implement the Panama Canal Treaty

This document is a memorandum addressing the conflicts of interest for a former Department of State officer, Mr. A, who has been approached by the Government of Panama to represent them in connection with legislation to implement the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty. The conclusion reached is that while Mr. A is barred from representing Panama before the judicial or executive branches, he is allowed to participate in legislative activities connected with implementing the treaty. The document presents a review of the applicability of 18 U.S.C. § 207 to Mr. A's proposed representation of Panama, as well as the question of whether legislative activities are excluded from the statute's scope.

September 24, 1979