Office of the Historian

143. Memorandum From the Assistant to the President for Congressional Liaison (Moore), the Special Assistant to the President for Congressional Liaison (Beckel) and the White House Congressional Liaison Aide (Thomson) to President Carter1

Washington, February 9, 1978

RE

  • PANAMA TREATIES—STATUS

You should know about the following developments today.

1. Debate

This morning’s debate was dominated by Senator Byrd’s magnificent performance. He delivered a fine speech and stood off at least ten conservative Republicans all by himself. In the afternoon, Senator Hatch held the floor for 2½ hours.2 Our allies continue to hold the momentum on the floor, however.

2. Implementing Legislation

Senator Byrd has asked Warren Christopher to send up a draft of the implementing legislation even though it is not completed.3

3. Stevens

Your meeting with Senator Stevens had good results. He announced today that he would support the Treaties if amended in certain ways. We may be able to get him to accept a harmless understanding in lieu of his amendment, which deals with expeditious passage.4

4. Ford and DeConcini

We are told confidentially that Senators Ford and DeConcini will introduce an amendment tomorrow stating that the second $10 million does not accrue over the life of the Treaty.5 They indicated through staff that they would eventually accept an understanding on this subject in lieu of an amendment.

[Page 377]

5. Understandings

Obviously, we must try to limit the number of understandings proposed. Nevertheless, key Senators will need to attach some before we can win. It now appears that understandings on the following topics may be necessary in order for us to get enough key Senators to win:

a. Operation and maintenance after 2000

b. Negotiation for bases after 2000

c. Defining expeditious passage (Stevens)

d. No accrual of the second $10 million

It will be ticklish business holding the line at only these four.

  1. Source: Carter Library, White House Central Files, Subject File, FO 3–1, Panama Canal, 13. No classification marking. Carter initialed the top-right corner of the memorandum.↩
  2. Carter placed a checkmark in the right margin next to this sentence.↩
  3. An unknown hand wrote an illegible comment in the right margin. Carter wrote in the right margin: “Give me a prior brief.”↩
  4. Carter placed a checkmark in the right margin next to this sentence.↩
  5. Carter placed a checkmark in the right margin next to this sentence.↩