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sovereignty and what was regarded by the Colombians as inadequate payment to their country.
 Later that year, with the clear encouragement of the United States, the Department of Panama declared its independence from Colombia and formed the Republic of Panama. U.S. forces, acting to maintain peaceful transit of the isthmus-get this, now-prevented Colombian troops from putting down the revolution.
 In other words, we acted in violation of our solemn responsibilities, duties, and promise to Colombia, recognizing the sovereignty of Colombia over the province of Panama. It was the United States which prevented Colombian troops from effectively utilizing and exercising 'Colombia's rightful sovereignty.
 Fifteen days after the uprising, before any Panamanian had had a chance to read it, the Hay-Bunaui-Varilla Treaty was signed.
 How do you like that? Before any Panamanian had had a chance to read it, it was signed-the treaty that no Panamanian ever signed. That is what we are talkinor about the 1903 treaty. It was negotiated for Panama by Philippe IBunau-Varilla, a French citizen, and-get this-a major stockholder in the French canal company, a ma n who had not been in Panama for 18 years.
 Under the agreement, the French company was paid $40 million f or its holding. The Panamanian Government was paid additional compensation of $10 million. Colombia was eventually paid an indemnity of $25 million in 1921, settling differences arising out of the events of 1903.
 How did Bunan-Varilla come out in the transaction? Well, let us turn to page 401 of MceCullough's book.
 Mr. LAXALT. Will the Senator yield?
 Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Not at this poiiit, but I will later. I -will be delighted to.
 Let us refer to page 401 of David McCullough's book, "The Path Between The Seas."
 The Bunau-Varilla firm, for example, recovered all of its 2,200,000 franc stake ($440,000)Not just chicken feed even today-"in the Compagne Nouvelle,"in other words, the company "plus a proft"-they were doing pretty wNell-"of about 66,000 francs, or $13,200."
 That is a pretty good haul for Bunan-Varilla, the man who wrote and negotiated the treaties, the man who signed the treaties on behalf of Panama.
 The Panamanian provisional government ratified the treaty on December 2, 1903, upon the strong urging of Bunau-Varilla and the United States.
 Now I will yield to the Senator.
 Mr. LAXALT. Is it true that at the time B1unau-Varilla came here to negotiate the treaties, he was a paid representative of the then Panaman ian. Government
 Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes. He had very adroitly manipulated himself into the position of securing,( from that revoltion ry Junta, the3 title of minister plenipotentiary. What I am saying' is that he was not a Panamanian, he had not been in Panama for 18 years but he himself had a personal financial interest in seeing that the treaty was signed, and he, himself drafted the treaty in its English form.