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February 1-The Senate Armed Services Committee completed its
 series of hearings with testimony that raised many concerns about the economic impact of the Panama Canal Treaties. Appearing before the Committee were: H. R. Parfitt, Governor of the Panama Canal Zone and President of the Panama Canal Company; Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General of the United States; and.
 Frank A. Nicolai, American Managoement Systems, Inc. Parftt and Staats took issue with the Carter administration's contention that the treaties would cost American taxpayers nothing, indicating that implementation of the treaties-withdrawal of military forces, reassignment of operational duties, and the establishment of an early retirement plan for canal employees, for example-would cost millions of tax dollars. General Parftt wv'arned that after 1984 canal revenues probably will not support the operation of the canal or meet U.S. obligations to pay Panama large sums of money from toll
 revenues.
February 1-R'esults of a Gallup poll revealed 45 percent of the
 public in favor of the Treaties and 42 percent opposed, a significant shift from a similar poll three months earlier which showed 48
 percent against the Treaties.
 Feray1-A group of senators, led by treaty opponent Seiltor
 Jesse Helms, asked Majority Leader Byrd to delay debate until
 Februry 20when ongress would return from its Lincoln's Birthday recess. As reasons for the delay, the group's letter said that the administration had not yet presented the implementing legislation the treaties would require; that the Foreign Relations Committee's printed report was not yet available; that the Panama Canal Company had not yet released its internal study on estimated operating costs of the proposed new Panama Canal Commission; and that the Armed Services Committee was still holdings hearings related to the treaties, and transcripts could not be printed in time for
 the debate.
Februa ry 1-Senators Durkin and Leahy announced their support for
 the Treaties.
February 2-Senators Byrd and Baker, the majority and minority
 leaders, invited all the other Senators to join them in sponsoring two "essential and f undamental" amendments to the Panama Canal Neutrality Treaty. Senator Sparkmnan, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senato~r Case, ranking minority member of the Committee, joined with the two leaders in support of amendments which spelled out U.S. rights to defend the
 Canal and to enjoy head-of-the-line passage during emergencies. February 2-The Senate adopted a resolution authorizing live radio
 broadcasts of its debate on the Panama Canal Treaties but refused
 to allow television coverage.
February 2-Press Secretary Jody Powell said that telephone calls to the White House following the President's "fireside chat" ran 4 to I against the Panama Canal Treaties.
February 4-Senate Majority Leade~r Robert Byrd suggestedd that the greatest danger f acing the treaties was the possibility that "crippling amendments" would be approved during the debate. Byrd said he thought it possible that amendments would be offered that