54 our people, President Lyndon Johnson met with former President Eisenhower and former President Truman. They decided that it was time that we did something to reach an understanding with these people so that we could live in peace and harmony and grow together and also enjoy the freedom in use of this canal. I believe, Mr. President, that these treaties do that, although they do not do everything that I would like them to do. C Mr. President, these treaties remind me, this -whole matter reminds me of the years when I used to practice law. I know some of my colleagues here have had these experiences. From time to time, during my years of practice, I would have a client come in who was having an argument with his neighbor over a land line. He would come in, mad as the dickens; he was mad as a wet setting lien, we used to say. Ie would implore me, "I want to defend this land line and I am not going to give 1 incli.1By golly," lie would say. "I will see him dead and in IHades before I'll give 1 foot. I'll take it to the United States Suprenie Court." But you know, after 3 or 4 years of litigation, going to court and taking depositions and picking juries and paying me a few legal fees, my client began to get a little more conciliatory, saying, "Maybe we ought to do something about it.; maybe we ought to give a little bit; let's get this thing over so we can move on and live in peace and harmony." I think that is exactly what Lyndon Johnson and Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman were saying in 1964: We would like to keep) things as they are but by golly, if itis going to mean a continuous disruption ini relations between our country and Panama, let us do something about it. Ii think that is what we have done. I. INTRODUCTION I will speak specifically today to three topics in niy remarks. I will address some of the history which has led me to the conclusion that the time for a new treaty arrangement with Panama is now. Next T will address the tough questions which we all have to answer about the second treaty dealing with the Panainia Canal and, finally, I will speak to my personal convictions about the canal issue and my hopes f or our country. INO issue to my recollection has aroused so much debate aiic controversy and none has generated so much mail from the American people. While at tinies the comniunic at ions we received were less than pleasant, I amn refreshed and reassured by the public debate on this issue. We have a great country and I believe that this greatness requires us to make decisions a lesser country could not. It is this time of decision which prompts me to speak about the Panama Canal treaties. H. CHRONOLOGY OF PANAMANIAN HIIITORY-1500-1820 Discovery and Development: 1501. Discovered by a Spanish explorer and explored the following year by Christopher Columbus.I 1529. Explorer Cortez drafted a plan for a canal route. 1534. The King of Spain ordered a survey for a ship canal.