Chairman STENNIS. Members of the committee, I have a brief opening statement and ask unanimous consent that it be inserted in the record at'this time.
[The prepared statement of Senator Stennis follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN C. STENNIS, CHAIRMAN
This morning the committee begins its hearings on 5. 1024, a bill to. implement the Panama Canal treaties. Many of the issues that we will be discussing during these two days are not new to the members of the Senate who were here last year, as there was a great deal of discussion during the treaty ratification debate about the costs of implementing the treaties and how that cost should be borne.
Some Senators, like myself, felt, on balance, that the Panama Canal treaties were unwise and voted against them. In my case, I was not convinced that the national security risks of giving up our control over the Canal were worth the benefits to be gained in our relationship with Panama. Nonetheless, our constitutional process was carried out to its fullest, and the treaties were eventually ratified. 'They are now the law of the land, and a solemn international obliga-* tion of the United States. Our committee has jurisdiction over legislation affecting the government and operation of the Panama Canal, and we must carry out our responsibility to fully and fairly implement these treaties.
In short, we must put the debate over the desirability of the treaties behind us, and consider how best to manage the transition to the treaty regime, to protect the interests of our citizens who work in Panama, and facilitate the continued smooth operation of the waterway itself.
This is complex legislation, and while we start with the bill put forward by the Administration, I feel certain that this committee will have some changes of its own to add, based on its accumulated experience in dealing with these issues over many years, and particularly during the last two. Because of the tremendous volume of work faced by the committee this Spring, I ask Senator Levin to take on the job of looking into this legislation, informing himself especially deeply on the issues, so that we could have some expert guidance on this complex matter. I am sure -that Senator Levin will have a number of questions for these witnesses, and I look forward to hearing from him.
This morning we welcome Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Charles Duncan. They are accompanied by Ambassador David Popper, Secretary Vance's Special Representative for Panama Treaty Affairs, and by Assistant Secretary of the Army Michael Blumenfeld, whose office actually supervises the operations of the Panama Canal Company. These two gentlemen, as I understand it, have been heading up the groups in the Departments of State and Defense who have been doing a good deal of the actual planning for treaty implementation. We welcome all of you.
.Chairman STENNIS. The committee also has prepared statements of Senator Levin, Senator Tower, and Senator Thurmond, and I ask unanimous consent that 'they be inserted in the record at this time.
[The prepared statements of Senators Levin, Tower, and Thurmond follow:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR CARL LEviN