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October 11-Focusingy on human rights, the following people testified
 before the H-ouse International iRelations Committee: Representatives of the Panamanian Commission for Human Rights; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Stedman and Father Leo Mahon. Mahon favored ratification of the treaties, but expressed "grave doubts" about the human rights situation in Panama. The representatives of the Panamanian Human Rights Commission testified about numerous alleged human rights violations in Panama.
 Stedman indicated that the Department of State's assessment was that Panama is "neither a model open society, a traditional liberal democracy, nor a repressive totalitarian government. .." He emphasized General Torrijos' willingness to permit outside observers to view the human rights situation in Panama, and noted that during the debate on the proposed treaties, many government controls on
 freedom of assembly and political activity had been relaxed.
October 12-In continuing administration efforts to enlist public support for the Panama Canal treaties, President Carter spoke before a group of private citizens invited to the White House. According to the New York Times, President Carter suggested that as many as 100,000 American troops might be needed to protect the canal f rom civil unrest if the treaties were not ratified. "How many would be required is, of course, conjectural," he said, "but we can and we will defend it, and, as President, that is my firm resolve." The President asked his audience for their help "in getting the facts to the
 American people."
October 12-The Senate Foreign Relations Committee continued hearings on the Panama Canal treaties. Among the witnesses were: Dr.
 William P. Thompson of the National Council of Churches; John Cardinal Krol, Archbishop of Philadelphia; Morris Levinson of the Synagogue Council of America; Donald E. Miller of the Church of the Brethren; Mrs. Rose Marie Aragon and Richard Eisenman of the Panamanian Committee for Human Rights; Kenneth Boehm of the Young Americans for Freedom and Dennis Small of the U.S.
 Labor Party. Mrs. Aragon, wife of Panamanian exile Leopoldo Aragon, said the treaties should be rejected because of Panama's human rights record, but spokesmen for the religious groups urged
 approval of the treaties as just and fair.
October 13-In the Senate, hearings before the Foreign Relations
 Committee continued. The following people testified: Lane Kirkland, AFL-CIO, appeared on behalf of George Meany; Martin Gerber, United Auto Workers; Alfred Graham, AFT-CJO, Canal Zone Central Labor Union; Capt. J. R. Williams, Panama Canal Pilots' Association; Rene C. Lioeanjie, Central and South America National Maritime Union; John Fred Schlafly, American Council for World Freedom; Gary TL. Jarmin, American Conservative Union; Dr. Herminio Portell-Vila, American Security Council; and the Hon. Hamilton Fish,~ former congressman from New York.
 Meany's and Gerber's testimony reiterated AFL-CIO and UAW support for the 1977 treaties, while Graham explained why the affiliated unions in the Canal Zone differed with Meany's position.
October 13-Senator Jesse Helms was joined by Senators McClure, Thurmond and Hatch, Congressman Flood, the States of Idaho,