23
Senator BYRD. Since the Panama Canal Treaty went into effect, the port has been closed by a 2-day strike?
Mr. MCAULIFFE. That is correct.
Senator BYRD. The classified method for operating the locks and the canal, has that information been turned over to the Panamanians?
Mr. McAULIFFE. No, sir; that remains with the Commission.
NICARAGUA ARMS SHIPMENTS
Senator BYRD. Are you aware of any evidence that during the civil war in Nicaragua arms were shipped to Nicaragua through the Panama Canal or offloaded at ports in the former Canal Zone?
Mr. McAULIFFE. No, sir; I am not aware of anything like that.
USE OF CANAL BY CUBA AND U.S.S.R.
Senator BYRD. How often is the Panama Canal used by Cuban or Soviet merchant ships and warships?
Mr. McAULIFFE. Soviet ships use the canal regularly. I believe that in the course of the year we see 400 or 500 various Soviet ships. These are either personnel carriers-what I mean by personnel are cruise ships-or cargo ships coming through the canal.
There has similarly been regular use of the canal by Cuban ships but I do not have the regularity of it. I would say that it is a number considerably less than those of the Soviet ships. I will insert a table showing Communist use of the canal for the record.
[The information follows:]
CANAL TRANSITS OF VESSELS FROM COMMUNIST COUNTRIES
Country Fiscal year 1979 Fiscal year 1969
U.S.S.R. ----------------------587 104
Bulgaria- - -5 11 Cuba., 61 43 Czechoslovakia-.....---------------------- -1 4
East Germany ... 55 6 Peoples Republic of China. 10 0 Poland----------- 75 32
Yugoslavia.. 92 33
Total -------886 233
Senator BYRD. Has there been any significant change in the numbers of Cuban and Russian ships going through the canal?
Mr. McAULIFFE. No, sir. I believe these numbers have remained about the same for quite a number of years.
Senator BYRD. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator LEVIN. If there are no additional questions at this time we will adjourn this hearing.
As I indicated, there will be additional questions submitted for the record from members of the committee.
[The questions, with answers supplied, follow:]
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR CARL LEVIN, ANSWERS SUPPLIED BY SECRETARY BLUMENFELD, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION Question. You have requested only $25 million for the emergency fund instead of the $40 million authorized; is that sufficient to give you the kind of flexibility that fund was intended to provide?