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the operation, management and maintenance of the canal with which we are charged.
Senator BYRD. You are interested, I assume, in Panama as such?
Mr. BLUMENFELD. Of course, but I have not the details on the ramifications of the Panamanian decision with respect to its Olympic team's participation.
Senator BYRD. Do you know of any Cuban assistance to the Panamanian Olympic team?
Mr. BIUMENFELD. I am not personally aware of any.
FORMAL CANAL COMPANY INTELLIGENCE SECTION
Senator BYRD. The former Panama Canal Company had an intelligence and security section which maintained information bearing on individuals and groups which might pose a threat to the safe and efficient operation ot the canal. Would you describe what has become of that intelligence section, including the disposition of its records?
Mr. MCAULIFFE. Senator, that particular section was disbanded with the elimination of the Canal Zone Government, that elimination having taken place on October 2, as the treaty took effect.
The records that were maintained in that intelligence section have been-and I am 90 percent sure on this; and if I may, I will recheck for the record-turned over to the Intelligence Directorate of the Southern Command.
[Additional information follows:]
The Internal Security Office of the Canal Zone Government was reorganized into an Industrial Security Office on October 1, 1979. The intelligence and security section having to do with maintaining information on individuals and groups constituting a potential threat to the Canal was disbanded on entry into force of the treaty. The records of this section were offered to the Intelligence Director of the Southern Command.
Senator BYRD. What was the purpose of disbanding it?
Mr. MCAULIFFE. Because it was in effect a function of the Canal Zone Government and the government itself was disbanded.
COMMISSION INDUSTRIAL SECURITY OFFICE
I might add, Senator, that I retain within the Commission an Industrial Security Office. That office is responsible for planning, you might say, the internal security of our canal facilities. There is some information that that office has retained from the Canal Zone Government, but the information is much less, let us say, of an intelligence nature than had been the case up to the end of September.
COMMISSION NEED FOR INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY OFFICE
Senator BYRD. You feel that we do not need that additional intelligence?
MI. MCAULIFFE. I now rely completely upon the U.S. Southern Command for that, since they have the full responsibility for defense. My reliance is on that command for defense matters. I do, of course, have a small police force which will remain with the Commission until 1982, when it is phased out under the terms of the treaty.
Senator BYRD. Evidently it was felt necessary previously to have such an intelligence and security section and now it is not considered necessary?