An outline of U.S. military canal defense and base security requirements and future requirements regarding proposed canal relocations in Panama. A U.S. officer conducts a JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) briefing in the United States. Maps of the Canal Zone and Panama shows military installations, communications facilities and training areas. An officer points out Quarry Heights, Fort Amador, Howard AFB, Fort Kobbe, Rodman Naval Air Station and Fort Clayton on the map of Panama. An aerial photograph of Quarry Heights which will provide operational support for United States Southern Command Headquarters. An aerial picture of a bridge in Panama City and Quarry Heights in the background. Aerial photographs of Bridge of the Americas, Albrook AFB, Rodman Naval Station, Howard AFB and Fort Amador. An officer briefs. Maps of Fort Sherman and Galeta Island. Aerial photographs of Fort Sherman and Galeta Island.
Scenes of Vietnamese people as they flee Hue during communist siege of the city in 1968 Tet offensive during the Vietnam War. Refugees with belongings run as city is bombed. Houses burned. Woman cries after crossing remains of a destroyed bridge over river. Scenes changes to one year later: Long line of Vietnamese on way to newly discovered mass grave on March 25, 1969. Vietnamese civilians dig and on March 27, 1969 they begin to uncover bodies in the sand which show signs of torture. Locals try to identify dead. Second mass grave uncovered. Dead bodies and body parts. Third mass burial uncovered. Men at local authorities meeting. Assembly point for hundreds of coffins. Incense burning. Mourners at coffin. Coffin opened and woman looks at remains. Flowers and incense burning on coffins. Buddhist ceremonies shows coffins prepared for procession. Women grieve. Shrine at cemetery.
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower's 175th press conference in Washington DC, United States. President Eisenhower stands in front of a microphone before the newsmen during the press conference. One of the press women asks the President if he agrees to the internationalizing of the Panama Canal and whether he was considering building another canal in that area and if they did would they be able to hold it. Pressmen seated at the conference. The President says that the second question takes a lot of study but for the previous 14 years he has been in favor of building another canal, but that was something that he shall not recommend. Regarding the internationalizing of the Panama Canal he says that it is something he would not even think of at that moment. He says that they have got a treaty with Panama, the provisions of which have been obeyed and they have had a model relationship with Panama for the last 50 years. He says that he believes that a particular incident should not become a reason for breaking a relationship that has worked so well. View of the pressmen talking. The President talking to the officials and the pressmen.
U.S. Army soldiers at the Panama Canal Zone in Panama. The soldiers walking along shore. A ship docked along the shore. Men aboard the ship. The soldiers holding rifles, march on the ground. Mountains in the background. Soldiers working in the area. A soldier watching the enemy actions through a camera. Aircraft lined up at the airbase. Aircraft taking off. Several aircraft flying in formation overhead.
People on the streets of Panama city, Republic of Panama. The Isthmus of Panama shows vendors selling goods to local people in a marketplace. A crowded marketplace. People buy goods from stalls. Women sitting on a sidewalk talking. An old black woman sitting leaning against a wall and chewing.
Buildings in Panama city, Republic of Panama. The National Institute building in Panama. Spanish style balconies in a row of houses. A boy with a rag tied around waist walks on a street. Views of the President's house. People walk past on a street.