Utah’s Sen. Orrin Hatch made some strong points against giveaway of the Panama Canal in opening rounds of the Senate debate on the two proposed treaties. But it is obvious opponents have a tremendous task ahead in the effort to defeat ratification. It is a paradox of deep concern that so many senators are lined up in favor while mail from the citizens back home runs heavily against ratification. Thus far only 22 senators have indicated they are firmly committed to vote against the treaties. The debate will continue after a ltrday congressional recess. Sen. Hatch is at the forefront in the fight against ratification. His colleague, Sen. Jake Garn of Utah also opposes the treaties. Utah mail to the senators has been overwhelmingly opposed. in his Senate speech, Mr. Hatch cited 20 major flaws and ambiguities in the treaties. One strong argument was that there has been no input by the House of Representatives while a constitutional article requires that the House be involved in disposal of American property. He said 219 representatives have signed a petition expressing their desire to be involved, and questioned whether the U.S. has a right to give away the canal without approval of both houses of Congress. in an interview with Herald Washington correspondent Lee Roderick, Sen. Hatch claimed the Senate foreign relations committee, which favored the treaties 14 to 1, hadn’t done its homework and has been influenced by staff members “who are totally liberal.” He acknowledged that despite heavy anti-treaty feeling among the people, the odds favor ratification “unless Americans rise up in total indignation.” We commend Sen. Hatch and Sen. Garn on their treaty stance and urge them to continue the fight. Possibly an alternative plan such as proposed by E.W. Scripps, chairman of the board and president of Scripps League Newspapers-to give Panama assistance in developing bridges and roadways but keep the canalmight merit strong consideration as debate wears on. Mr. Scripps made a laudable point, in our opinion, when he concluded: “We believe in peaceful cooperation with other governments. We do not, however, believe in trying to buy ‘peace in our time’ by selling our future down the river.”