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Panama will have a -greater stake in the canal, and, thus, a greater interest in seeing that it remains open for the use of the ships of the United States and the world.
 Secretary of Defense Brown said during the committee' s hearings:
 Whether or not'we will have that use depends on a good many things. It depends upon whether in extremes we have a military force capable of assuring that it is kept open, but it also depends importantly on the attitudes of the Panamanians. It is easy to damage a lock so that the Canal's operation is shut down for a brief period. It is easy to do that over and over again. What do we want? Do we want a situation where we may have to use force over and over and over again in order to preserve the operability of the Canal or do we want a situation where the people of Panama see themselves correctly as having an important stake in keeping the Canal operating? Well, clearly the latter is the preferable situation.
 The committee believes the proposed treaties represent the best agreements obtainable; that they were carefully negotiated; and that they will protect our interest in the use of the canal.
 Mr. President, I should like here to pay a compliment to our two chief negotiators of these treaties, Ambassador Bunker and Ambassador Linowitz. WVIe heard from them at length. We felt that they had done a remarkably good job in negotiating these treaties.
 The committee then considered the ability of the United States to take action to defend the canal should the need occur. Until the year 2000. the United States clearly has the primary responsibility for canal defense, and the Panama Canal Treaty provides for these defense responsibilities. However, the committee looked at the long range defense question as it -will be affected by the neutrality treaty. The committee is confident that the Neutrality Treaty, as clarified by the joint statement issued by President Carter and General Torrijos and the committee's recommended amendment based on this statement, provides ample authority for the United States to act to protect its interest in the use of the canal. Also, our interest in priority use of the canal during times of need of emergency is fully protected.
 Charges that the United States -will be giving away the canal and the taxpayers will be paying Panama to take it were examined by the committee. The committee does not believe that such is the case. All annuity Tpayments to Panama will come from canal operatin g revenues and not from the tax dollars of Americans.
 The increased payments reflect, at last, adequate compensation to Panama f or the use of its territory and natural resources, especially water.
 It takes 52 million gallons of fresh water to send just one ship through the canal. With over 13,000 transits per year at present and many more than that by 2000, it should be easy to see that Panama contributes much to the successful operation of the canal.
 The Payments to Panama -will aid in the maintenance of a D)rogressive,, free enterprise economy in Panama, which will contribute to Panamna's ability to cooperate in operating the canal. The payments, also,-will be a major incentive to Panama to see that the canal remains open an d operates efficiently.
 The committee also wanted to know the effects of these treaties on the economy of the United States. Our findings are that the treaties and the toll increase of approximately 30 percent that will be necessary will have a negligible effect on the U.S. economy. A 30 percent