The World : U.S. Canal Chief Resigns

The Panama Canal Commission’s American chairman, William Gianelli, announced his resignation effective May 1. Commission sources said that he was discouraged by the continuing conflict between Washington and the regime of Panamanian strongman Manuel A. Noriega, saying it has hurt the morale of canal employees. Last week, Gianelli accused Panama of “interfering with the operation” of the canal by harassing commission employees. The commission, made up of five Americans and four Panamanians, is a U.S. agency that has operated the canal since sovereignty over the waterway was turned over to Panama on Oct. 1, 1979, under the Panama Canal Treaties.