A. General-Pro
 (5) Senator Robert Morgan, April 17, 1978 (S 5624-29)
 Mr. MORGAN. Mr. President, we have been on this issue now for approximately 2 months, and I suspect that about everything has been ,said on behalf of these treaties that can be said, as well as all that can be said against the treaties, and I doubt that anything I could
 say\, this afternoon would change the minds of any of those who are prepared to vote.
 But I would like to take a few moments of the Senate's time and state for the IRecord some of my thoughts about these treaties, some of the things I have studied, and some of my belief s about them, and why I intend, barring any unforeseen development between now and tomorrow afternoon at 6 o'clock, to cast m-y vote in f avor of ratification of the treaty before the Senate, as I did for the Treaty of Neutrality which was ratified by the Senate some 2 or 3 weeks ago.
 I would say in the beginning, Mr. President, that there are a lot of things in these two treaties with which I disagree, but I doubt that anyone can draft any treaties or that any treaties could be drafted with wichI'elI I -would agree completely and in totality. As a matter of f act, I doubt if treaties could be drafted that would be satisfactory to any Member of the Senate as well as the Government of Panama.
 But, as taken as a whole, I believe the treaties are in the best interests of the United States, the national security of this country and, therefore, I think they should be ratified.
 I want to address my remarks primarily to three topics this afternoon in the debate, if time permits. I want to talk a little about the history
 -which has led me to the conclusion that the time for a new treaty arranrgem-ent with Panama is now. And then I want to address the tough questions which we all have to answer abot the second treaty dealing with the Panama Canal. And, finally, I want to speak of my personal conlvictions about the canal issue and about my hopes for our country.
 No issue to my recollection has aroused so much debate and controversy, and certainly no issue during my 4-year tenure in the U.S. Senate has generated so much mail from the American people. While at times the communications we have received have been less than pleasant, I am refreshed and I am reassured by the public debate on this issueC.
 I have just returned from a long weekend of travels back and forth across the State of North Carolinaf where I have talked to literally hundTreds of people, and T am impressed with the knowledge of the people concerning' the issues before us, and I am impressed with the willingness of what I believe to be the majority of the people of North Carolina to place their trust and their confidence in the majority of the Members of this Senate.
 We have a great country, Mr. President, and I believe that the greatness of this country requires us to make some decisions that a lesser country could not afford to make. It is this time of decision which prompts me to speak about the Panama Canal treaties.
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