Two years ago President Clinton persuaded the clubhouse to admit Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Last month more than 20 senators gave speeches about the merits of admitting Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Clinton's "Partnership for Peace" is a device to avert debate about admitting Poland, Ukraine and other Eastern European states into NATO now.

Ukraine is particularly feeling the squeeze because of NATO's plans to admit Poland as a new member and thus extend the security alliance to Ukraine's borders.

I mean, if we just admit Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, all we will be doing is redividing Europe slightly to the east.

Mr. Dole would admit Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to NATO immediately.

That issue is not simply whether NATO should admit Poland or Hungary or other Eastern European countries, although doing so would surely benefit it.

Russia is not only trying to blunt any military advantage that the alliance derives from admitting Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Germany has argued that in order to admit Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic to the European Union, wide-ranging reform of the Union's budget must first be completed.

On the Senate floor today, the official topic was whether to approve the treaty admitting Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into NATO.