I believe that the American people are big enough and strong enough, courageous enough and understanding enough to be proud of what has been accomplished.

I will nominate Carolyn R. Payton, of Washington, D.C., to be Associate Director of ACTION.

I will nominate Arthur J. Goldberg to be Ambassador at Large and U.S. Representative to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

he was of great assistance in the negotiations between ourselves and Panama in developing the terms of the treaty.

The treaties do more than that.

This opens a new chapter in our relations with all nations of this hemisphere.

I think this demonstrates the importance of the treaty to Panama.

This has not always been apparent to our neighbors, but I think the American people feel this deep within them.

This agreement thus forms a new partnership to insure that this vital waterway, so important to all of us, will continue to be well operated, safe, and open to shipping by all nations, now and in the future.

Mr. President, I can tell you without fear of being wrong that more than a million Panamanians wept this evening during the ceremonies.

President Perez has developed into one of my best personal friends and is a great counselor and adviser for me on matters that concern the nations of the Caribbean and Central and South America.

It's not an easy thing to accept a change which has been so profoundly balanced in our favor and which can now be of equal benefit to both countries.

I am grateful to all of you leaders for coming here to give our people an expression of your interest and your support.

If any agreement between two nations is to last, it must serve the best interests of both nations.

The people of our country look upon President Perez as a great leader in this hemisphere and also, of course, the leader of one of the great democracies of the world.

We will have a chance during this 3 or 4 days to meet with all of you leaders who have come from your own great countries.

I hope that the spirit of mutual respect and friendship which had guided the United States and Panama through the canal treaty negotiations will serve as an example to the other countries of the hemisphere.

the treaty will establish a new era of closer cooperation and friendship between the United States and Panama.