use with a resultant decrease in total canal revenues as well as burdening specific American exports, especially grain and machinery moving to the Far Eastern, Asiatic and Pacific nations, to such an extent as to price them out of world competition thereby depriving our nation and its economy of the largest and best source of foreign exchange and income so vital to a favorable balance of payments. Respectfully, EDWARD S. REED, Chairman. GULF PORTS ASSOCIATION, Gulfport, Miss., September 28, 1977. To: The President of the United States, the Members of the Congress. Mr. President and Congressmen: The Gulf Ports Association, an organization representing the public deepwater ports of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas through whose facilities over one-half of all grain exports from this United States move and through whose ports some 37.8% of all U.S. cargoes move in international trade and commerce, sincerely and vigorously urge that the Panama Canal Treaty not be ratified and become effective unless and until realistic, effective and controllable safeguards are effected to assure fair, equitable and economically realistic canal tolls, rates directly related to the operation and maintenance of the canal, and not including the cost of international diplomacy. To burden the cargos and vessels transversing the canal with the additional and very substantial non-operations costs of payments to the Government of the Republic of Panama can have an extremely adverse effect on not only the canal movements, but can well price certain U.S. exports which can not economically utilize other routings out of world commerce. The effect on all of the United States ports located on the Gulf of Mexico could be dramatically detrimental unless rates and tolls are maintained at a level commensurate with the costs of canal operation. Respectfully, ROBERT C. ENGRAM, President. [From the Congressional Record (Senate) Feb. 10, 1971] CONVENTION WITH NICARAGUA TERMINATING THE BRYAN-CHAMORRO TREATY OF 1914 Mr. MANSFIELD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair lay before the Senate Executive L on the Executive Calendar, and that all the various parliamentary stages of the treaty up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification be considered as having occurred, and that the vote on Executive L occur beginning not later than 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 17. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection it is so ordered. There being no objection, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider Executive L. 91st Congress, second session, a convention with Nicaragua terminating the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty of 1914, which was read the second time, as follows: CONVENTION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Nicaragua, desirous of further strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation long existing between their two countries, have reexamined the Convention respecting a Nicaragua canal route, signed at Washington on August 5, 1914, in the light of present circumstances and needs and have concluded that the interests of both nations will best be served by terminating the Convention in all its provisions. To this end, the two Governments have agreed to the following articles: ARTICLE I Upon the entry into force of the present Convention, the Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Nicaragua respecting a Nicaraguan canal route, which was signed at Washington on August 5, 1914, shall terminate. ARTICLE II As a consequence of the termination of the Washington Convention of August 5, 1914, all the rights and options that the 1914 Convention accorded to the Government of the United States of America shall cease to have effect as of the date this Convention enters into force. ARTICLE III The present Convention shall be ratified in accordance with the constitutional requirements of the contracting parties, and instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at the city of Managua as soon as possible. The present Convention shall enter into force on the day on which the instruments of ratification are exchanged. In witness whereof the respective pleni-potentiaries have signed the present convention. Done in duplicate, in the English and Spanish languages, both equally authentic at the city of Managua this fourteenth day of July, one thousand nine hundred and seventy. For the Government of the United States of America: Malcolm R. Barnebey, Charge d'Affaires a.i. of the United States of America. For the Government of the Republica of Nicarauga : Lorenzo Guerrero, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua. The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no objection, Executive L will be considered as having passed through its various parliamentary stages up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification. 99-592-78- -11 |