(5) Senator Thurmond's understanding No. 16, providing that the United States in the exercise of its right to establish tolls shall examine the economic effects of any proposed toll increase on U.S. ports and commodities and seek to minimize any disproportionate effect on any region or type of commodity, was tabled by a vote of 56 to 42; (6) Senator Bartlett's reservation No. 3, withholding the exchange of instruments of ratification until the President has determined that Panama has ratified the Treaty in accordance with its constitutional processes, including the provisions requiring a plebiscite of the people, was tabled by a vote of 63 to 35; (7) Senator Allen's amendment No. 104 (to unprinted reservation No. 36), to provide that the reservation shall not be construed as limiting or detracting from the DeConcini Reservation to the Neutrality Treaty, was tabled by 60 yeas to 38 nays; (8) Senator Allen's amendment No. 105 (to unprinted reservation No. 36), to provide that the reservation shall be construed as limiting and detracting from the DeConcini Reservation to the Neutrality Treaty, was tabled by a vote of 59 to 41; (9) Senator Cannon's unprinted amendment No. 37 (to unprinted reservation No. 36), deleting therefrom the words "nor be interpreted as a right of," was tabled by a 58-41 vote; (10) Senator Griffin's modified amendment No. 103 (in the nature of a substitute for the Resolution of Ratification), calling for the Senate to return the Treaty to the President with the advice that negoiations be initiated to conclude a new treaty which would better serve the interests of both nations, was tabled by a vote of 64 to 36. April 18-President Carter hailed the Senate vote in television remarks, saying that: "This is a day of which Americans can always be proud. . . These Treaties can mark the beginning of a new era in our relations not only with Panama but with all the rest of the world. They symbolize our determination to deal with the developing nations of the world, the small nations of the world, on the basis of mutual respect and partnership." April 18-The New York Times reported that leftist students in Panama demonstrated against the treaties in front of the Foreign Ministry and in a downtown plaza. In the U.S.-controlled Canal Zone, U.S. servicemen and civilians were warned not to enter Panama unless absolutely necessary, according to the report. April 19-It was reported that General Omar Torrijos told a press conference after Senate approval of the Panama Canal Treaty that, had the Treaty been rejected by the Senate or proven unacceptable to Panama, Panamanian armed forces "would have intervened in the canal by tomorrow morning." General Torrijos warned that, should the United States intervene in Panama's affairs, "we are capable of destroying it." In response, a Carter Administration spokesman said that "it is safe to assume we would be prepared to defend American interests" in Panama. Meanwhile, Panamanians celebrated the Senate vote for ratification. April 19-In a joint statement, several leading Panamanian civilian politicians repudiated the treaties, asserting that without a new plebiscite "the military government is making this pact on its own." Spokesmen for the Panamista, Liberal and Christian Democratic parties and the "Movement of Independent Lawyers" said that should they come to power they would immediately renounce the treaties. At the same time they acknowledged they had little hope that a second plebiscite would be called. General Torrijos had told reporters that no plebiscite was needed in Panama because the treaties "are a triumph and we can live with them." April 20-Pentagon officials, dismissing General Torrijos' remarks as political rhetoric, stated that U.S. intelligence had no evidence of Panamanian plans to attack the Canal Zone if the Senate rejected the Treaty. April 21-Columnist James Reston reported in the New York Times that the Carter administration was ready with a series of contingency plans to minimize the damage in Panama and Latin America in case the Senate failed to approve the Panama Canal Treaty. April 24-The Federal Times reported that Panama Canal employees were in a "mutinous" mood and might resort to a job action if the implementing legislation on the canal treaties were not modified to protect their job rights, according to L. J. Fattorosi, president of the Canal Zone Central Labor Union and Metal Trades Council of the AFL-CIO. April 25-At a press conference, Rep. George Hansen, spokesman for a group of treaty opponents in the House, said that the group has pledged to continue fighting against the treaties when the House takes up the implementing legislation to transfer Canal Zone property to Panama. Hansen said, "The battle over the Panama Canal treaties has ended in the Senate but Round Two is coming up a constitutional fight of serious proportions." April 25-The Panamanian Foreign Ministry issued a lengthy communique establishing its official position on the treaties and their amendments, reservations and understandings. The document includes an analysis of each of the amendments and an interpretation from the Panamanian viewpoint. April 28-The White House announced that President Carter will visit Panama June 16 and 17 to exchange instruments of ratification for the Panama Canal treaties, even though the ratification could not become effective until Congress passes implementing leg islation under the Brooke reservations. Senator Brooke released a letter in which he urged President Carter to make it clear that the ceremonial exchange should not be given a formal, binding status. April 30-The Washington Star reported that General Torrijos sent messages to Majority Leader Robert Byrd and Minority Leader Howard Baker praising their courage for supporting the Panama Canal Treaties and explaining that his bellicose outburst immediately after the final Senate vote was an outgrowth of an almost steady stream of criticism from some Senators. MAY 1978 May 1-Senator Robert Byrd conveyed to the Senate, General Torrijos' "profound thanks on behalf of my entire people" for the Senate approval of the Panama Canal treaties. "I believe," the Panamanian leaders' letter continued, "that we have entered on an entirely new era, one in which our countries are partners, are friends, are going to work together to make the future better for both our peoples. And you should know, also, that the Canal has never been safer, more secure, than it is at this moment." May 1-The Washington Star reported that Gabriel Lewis had resigned as Panama's ambassador to the United States since the treaties had been approved. May 9-The House approved by a vote of 231-170 an amendment offered by Congressman Hansen to the first budget resolution for FY 1979 (H. Con. Res. 559) which would transfer Panama Canal Company revenues to the Treasury to insure greater accountability and congressional oversight over the Canal operations. May 15-The Supreme Court let stand the Court of Appeals decision that the President and the Senate, acting by a self-executing treaty, may transfer to another nation property in which the United States has an interest, thereby dismissing the contention, supported by 60 Members of Congress, that legislation enacted by both houses of Congress was required for the disposal of U.S. property in the Panama Canal Zone. May 24-When the House considered the Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act for FY 1979 (H.R. 10929), Mr. Hansen proposed an amendment to provide that "none of the funds... shall be used directly or indirectly for the purpose of effecting any force reduction or base relinquishment in the Panama Canal Zone... without a specific Act of Congress." The amendment passed by a division vote of 61 to 35. May 31-The House approved, by a vote of 203 to 163, an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of FY 1979 (H.R. 12598), offered by Mr. Hansen, providing that "none of the funds herein authorized to be appropriated shall be used directly or indirectly to effect implementation of the Panama Canal Treaties of 1978 without a specific Act of Congress authorizing such implementation." JUNE 1978 June 5-Senator Jesse Helms argued in the Senate that a communique of April 25, 1978 by the Foreign Ministry of Panama repudiated U.S. Senate changes in the Panama Canal Treaties. He also released the text of a letter calling on President Carter to resolve any disagreements with Panama before steps are taken to ratify the Treaties. June 9-When the House considered H.R. 12933, Appropriations for the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 1979, Rep. Bauman offered an amendment, which was approved by voice vote, to strike the $10 million appropriation for continuing construction of the Darien Gap portion of the InterAmerican Highway in Panama, and Rep. Hansen offered an amendment, which was rejected by a 10-13 division vote, providing that none of the funds for the Panama Canal operation would be used "to effect implementation of the Panama Canal treaties approved in 1978." June 10-Dr. Arnulfo Arias, the former President of Panama forced from power by the National Guard in 1968, returned to Panama after years of exile and was welcomed by thousands of supporters. His visit was seen as a focal point of opposition to the Torrijos Government, the Panama Canal Treaties, and President Carter's visit to Panama. June 13-The Panamanian Government prepared to give President Carter a warm welcome despite considerable opposition among some sectors of the population. June 14-Sporadic shooting broke out at the University of Panama between rival student groups at odds over President Carter's visit. According to news reports, two students were killed and many more were wounded in the fighting, making Panama tense and gloomy on the eve of President Carter's visit. June 15-The Panamanian Government closed down the University of Panama and the National Institute and initiated strict security measures in preparation for the Carter visit. June 15-Senator Helms released a State Department reply to his June 5 letter which he characterized as inadequate. The letter stated that the State Department does not regard the Panamanian Foreign Min istry communique as a repudiation of the Senate resolutions of ratification and noted that Panama will explicitly accept all Senateadded amendments, conditions, resolutions and understandings to the Treaties in the legally binding Protocol of Exchange. June 16-In a ceremony in the Panama City Coliseum, attended by about 4,000 guests, including U.S. Senators and Representatives and leaders of five Western Hemisphere countries, President Carter and General Torrijos formally delivered the instruments of ratification of the two Panama Canal Treaties, with the provision that the effec tive date of the exchange shall be April 1, 1979, unless the two Parties agree otherwise. Later, the two leaders addressed a huge gathering in the Fifth of May Plaza in downtown Panama, with President Carter noting that the day marked "the beginning of a new partnership between Panama and the United States." June 17-President Carter spoke to a subdued crowd of U.S. citizens at Fort Clayton in the Canal Zone, assuring them that their rights would be protected and calling on them to make the transition to the new regime as smooth as possible. |