SENATE VOTES DEFENSE BILL INVOLVING WAR POWERS
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Publication Date:
December 30, 1970
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NEW YORK To DATE 'O' K ( I(' PA
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Senate Votes Defense Bill Involving War Powers
SpecialbT'heNewYork 'rims !Senate, the defense bill prohibit-House conference with the un-
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29?-The
Senate ended a long batVe over
imposing Congressional restric-
tions on the President's war-
making powers tonight by pass-
ing, 70 to 2, a compromise ver-
sion of a $66.6-billion defense
appropriations bill.
The bill was passed earlier in
the day by the House,'234 to
185, and it now goes to the
White House for President
Nixon's signature, about six
months after the start of the
fiscal year. The measure pro-
vides $2-billion less than re-
quested by the Administration
for . the Defense Department
during the current fiscal year.
Only Senator Charles E.
Goodell, Republican of New
York, and Albert Gore, Demo-
crat of Tennessee-both of
whom were defeated in the last
election-voted against the
measure.
At the Senate's insistence,
language that Senate doves had
protested could provide a Con-
gresional mandate for Presiden-
tial expansion of the war in
Indochina was stripped from
the bill.
As it originally passed the
ed the President from ititroduc-
ing American ground combat
troops into Cambodia, as well
as Laos and Thailand. This was
an expansion of a prohibition,
which the doves had succeededi
in writing into last year's de-
fense bill, bannttlg the introduc-
tion of American troops into
Laos or Thailand.
But in the Senate-House con-
ference, the House conferees,
with Administration support,
insisted upon writing into this
prohibition on Cambodia some
language that Senate doves con-
sidered a loophole giving the
President wide discretionary au-
thority.
The language provided that
the ban on introducing ground
troops would not prevent the
President from taking actions
that he deemed necessary to
insure the withdrawal of Ameri-
can troops from South Vietnam
or to obtain the release of
Americans held as prisoners of
war.
At a session early this morn-
ing, the Senate refused to ac-
cept the original compron ise
version of the defense bill and
sent it back to the Senate-
derstanding that the new lan-
guage on Cambodia would be
deleted.
The House conferees agreed
ii} the second conference to de-
lete any reference to Cambodia
as well as the provision con-
sidered a loophole. Thus the bill
the Government of Cambodia
or Laos."
On the legislative restrictions
on the President, Senator
Church contended that the
"controlling language" now is
the same as the restrictions that
the Senate incorporated in a
supplemental foreign aid au-
thorization bill as well as the
language retained in the defense
bill prohibiting the introduction
of ground combat troops into
Laos or Thailand.
There still remain differences
of interpretation on how bind-
ing these restrictions are upon
the President. But while the di-
viding line between Congress
and the executive branch on
warmaking powers remain im-
precise, Senate doves were con-
vinced that they had imposed
statutory restrictions on the
president's ability to make war
without Congressional consent.
was left with a prohibition on the introduction of ground cam
bat troops into Thailand or
Laos .
But the House conferees in-
sisted on restrictions on the
use "free world forces" in
Southeast t Asia, such as South
Vietnam that none of
these "free world forces" funds
could be used "in actions de- signed to provide military sup-
port and assistance to the Gov-
ernment of Cambodia or Laos."
To this restriction, the House
conferees insisted upon add-
ing additional language stating
that nothing in the restriction
would "prohibit support of ac-
tions required to insure the
safe and orderly withdrawal or
disengagement of U.S. forces
from Southeast Asia or to aid
In the release of Americans
held as prisoners of war."
Senator John Stennis, Miss-
issippi Democrat, chairman of
the Armed Service Committee,
said in floor debate "to permit
an expansion of the war" or
"to authorize the use of South
Vietnamese or other free-world
forces to go to the rescue of
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~ 55 DATE Z c " 1 ( PAGE
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ars T~p Use
By IOHN W. FINNEY
Special to The New York Times
22-1 of imposing Congressional re-
Dec
GTON
.
,
WASHIN
The senate passad Tegislation strictions on the President's1
$25 -
- -
I today au ----g ..
mil-!Ion military aid program moves one legislative obstacle
in
? yep" the r a new argument broke
ior, ue v -P- /esi- i-
But --- -
restrictions to ke
dent from sending ground com out over whether a provision
he defense
-r,
to Cambodia. moved LLVLLL t
romise legislation, priations bill.
co
mp
The
h authorizes $525-million The Senate incorporated in
i
c
wh
in , supplementary' foreign aid the foreign aid bill a version
ries in Asia and the of the amendment on ani-
for count
1Viddle Tas ways setlt to the bodia originally sponsored by
Qus, here it was quickly Senators John Sherman
A n` olce vote ands Cooper. Republican of Ken-
_ t.;x
y
h
sent to resldent Nixon. 1tuaky, and wank uurc
,f Cambodia-as ^~
Ado t%on of- the foreign aid Democrat of Idaho. The Senate Leis and Thailand.
members
the Presi=
ference ,
f t
s
con
out i provision preven But in
oriz, ends a vote o
of the Appropriations Commit-
41 to 26 , ends months of Con provision that
gresslonal debate over the issue Continued on page 7, Column 1 tee wrotte i tha
is prohibition
:ed
d n -PTevent the Presi-
. kina any steps h
:w deemed
----
and orderly withdraw
,,the safe from
llamli -d a orcto obtains the re-
lease of
Americans held as
t prisoners of war.
George D. Aiken of
king
, -V ermonti, tan
COM,
on the Pargedes RtodaY tionson the
ts~ Senate Seenate floor that there had
been an -understanding
ez the provision on Cambodia
wy uld be femoved from the de-
fense bill if the Senate would
11 pass the foreign aid authoriza-
tion bill.
be language in the defense
bit , he says; not only nullified
?: thg restrictions on Cambodia in also
the foreign aidebil asua Con-
be interp
1d
r gressional mandate for a Presi-
r,, dential expansion of the war
in Southeast Asia.
resentative George H.
t Re
p
bu
Mahon, Democrat of Texas,
chairman of the House Appro-
priations Committee, denied in
an, interview that there ever been any
understanding
with the House eom ,Cte that,
the langi'-
___Wdu tT bedeleted from the de-.
fmlim-
'any- funds,
to introduce ground combat'
trQ S or military advisers into
Cambodia and stipulates that
the military aid program does
not constitute a defense com-
initment to the Cambodian Gov-
the
With the tacit support of
the Senate
Administration, accepted by
provision was conferees of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee and r mire`
porated in the
foreign aid legislation-
tacit Ad-
However, also with
ministration support, conferees
of the House and SenateWaP-
priations committee
writing what members of the
Senate Foreign Relations com-
mittee regarded as a loophole
into the defense appropriations
bill.
As passed by the Senate, the
defense bill embodied a p rohl-
bition against the introduction
__
troops into
bat
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SEN.-
M7, blocking adjournment` But then
TE 11t
1111 i,1 1~! Treasury officials said the com-
ON MAJOR ISSUES, e e was unacceptable , thus rai tg
the Administration, thus raisins
the threat that the House would
se 2003/03/25 : CIA-RDP72-00337R000200250001-9
71 A m r, '") O s". - _
refuse to accept the Senate ver-
sion of the bill.
SST and Welfare Debated
On its double-shift schedule,
the Senate debated the super-
sonic transport in the morning
and early afternoon and then
welfare reform in the late after-
noon and evening. There were
no signs of s break in either
48-35 'Vote Upholds Nixon
on Manpower Training-
-Food Stamps Imperiled
debate, both of which were
By JOAN W. FINNE'
the Senate remained stuck or.
the central issues of a super,
sonic transport, Cambodian aid
welfare reform and trade
quotas.
With the Senate enmeshed it
two concurrent filibusters
about the only legislative busi,
tress it would transact was to
accept the inevitable by pass,
ing and sending to the House
a resolution providing that Cony
gress w_ ould return an Dec. 28
after a -five-day Christmass
recess.
Tonight the Senate failed to,.
override President Nixon's veto;
of the $9.5-billion manpower
training bill. The vote was 48-'
35 in favor of overriding, eight,
votes short of the two-thirds.
majority needed to override a
veto.
Foo Stamps Periled
Meanwhile, a ' deadlock be-
tween Senate and House nego-,
tiators continued - today to
threaten the food stamp pro-
[gram; utide` which some nine
j i .tllion Americans receive food e
,at discount prices. The program
gcpires Dec. 31 unless it is,
ectendnd. t
The Senate ended one small'
[Gore, Democrat of Tennessee,
by passtng a contpromise ver-
sion of a bill providing .contri-
butions to various international
financial institutions, such as
the World Bank and the Inter
AmerjcanDevelopnletlt Bank.
-Senator Mike Mansfield of
Montana, majority leader, pro-
claimed the Senate's action to
be "the first break in the wall
WASHII rb Dec. 21
vacant chamber
.
'The legislative logjam block- BQnate will make an-!
1
I The .ing Congressional adjournment .oth i rl to ior~~5ty err rut
showed some signs of"breaking off'he 's.s.T: debate through,---
around the edges today, but I a ' Iosure motion. The first at-oration approval, the House con
to irnDose closure faflm
18 short of the required two-
thirds majority. While some
shifts toward closure are ex-
Henry M. Jackson of Washing
Negotiations to reach a com
Senator Jackson and other
l
p
ant are insistent that the
Senate approve the full $210-
il
m
lion for the project that was
voted by a House-Senate con-
o
pp.
-
priations
f10 bill. They argue that
aL_ -
The opposition, in turn, was
Transportation _ appropriations
The opposition is lecl by Sena-
ittee reached agreement today
~ferees accepted a Senateamend
ment in the bill prohibiting th
ombat troops or military ad
sizing that the planned military
aid did not represent an Amer-
ican commitment to support the
Cambodian Government,
But Senator J. W. Fulbrigh
chairman of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee. decided not t
o
members of the House and Sen-
he Cambodian languagelLthey'
d _1
'ad in
l
d
t
c
u
e
Prohibition at Issue
The Senate had inserted a
ovision in the defense appro-
ound combat troops~yinto
embers of the Appropriations
nst
ut10h to convene ___
ision stating that this prohibi.
on would not prevent +h.
ions he deemed necessary tc anyway," Senator Ma 11L11 non. 3
acilitate the withdrawal o told re sfiele
,If he
~merican troops from Vietnan doesn't w~ a
ign th
mericans held as prisoners o tion we will have to con Ie e
ar in North Vietnam. the new congress . 3."
n on Jan
It was announced Saturd
y Th
a
e
ew Congress would not
hat the Appropriations Corn be able to start work imme-
nittees would delete all thi diately on the Administration's
ambodian language in the de program
uOn would have{tolbe reported out
again b co
)". t maMw
El NE 1 'telli'
PAGE`
Relations Committee in turn[
would pass the foreign aid au-
thorization bill. But today this
arrangement ran into objet
members of the Appropriations
ommittees, who complained
hat the Foreign Relations Com-
ittee, with its language in the
oreign aid bill, was attempting
o tiee the hands of the Presi-
ent.
sident Nixon has threat-
ened to convene the new Con-
gress on Jan. 3 if the present
Congress falls to complete
action on the Administration's
program.
Congress has already passed
a resolution specifying that the
new Congress will convene on
Jan. 21, but the White House
on Saturday raised the threat
--------------
that the President might with.
hold his necessary signature
from the resolution, thus forc-
ing the new Congress
under the
Co
i
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This language would clearly prevent the
deployment, Pp g~n~ i eiC1 i(e fl p! time,2
of a substan e s
in Cambodia. If the President intended to
do than the money is not made available for
that purpose, and it would be necessary for
hhn to return to Congress and ask our con-
sent, But it is true that, as Commander in
Chief, within a limited area, the President
has power to initiate action designed to pro-'
tect American troops in the field.
Mr. STENNIS. If I may ask the Senator this
question, with reference to the battle of the
sanctuary, the areas that the President in-
vaded this summer, to destroy ammunition,
and so forth, would the Senator think that
his language prohibits a repetition of that
if the facts are similar and conditions are
pressing?
Mr. CHURCH. If there were_.a particular
concentration just over the border which
constituted a serious, imminent threat, that
could be suddenly struck and destroyed, that
might fall within the President's powers as
Commander In Chief. However, I could not
say to the Senator that undertaking an ex-
tended invasion of Cambodia with a large
American expeditionary force for six or eight
weeks falls within the scope of his power
under the Constitution as Commander in
Chief.
This whole question was fully explored in
the course of the earlier debate.
From a conversation I had with the Presi-
dent last evening, it is my understanding
now that he no longer takes exception to the
limiting language, He feels it conforms with
his own policy in Cambodia. He says he has
no intention of sending back troops. He no
longer persists in objecting to language d'f
this kind. I could not say, however, that this
prohibition in the bill would not preclude
an Invasion of Cambodia on the scale that
took place and for the length of time that
occurred last summer. I feel it would.
Mr. STENNIS. On that point right there, the
the Senator understands that no President,
no Commander in Chief, no Army field com-
mander, can tell how long it would take to
carry out an objective. They go into the un-
known. Also it takes time to prepare for such
an attack on a sanctuary. So the President
and his advisers might have to have 3 or 4
weeks, or even longer, to prepare. It Is a de-
liberate act. It is not an extreme, rash act.
So the Senator would not preclude, then,
a bona fide effort, the planning of an attack,
an invasion, technically, of the country to
clear out and clean out a sanctuary that was
an imminent threat to our men in.South
Vietnam?
Mr. CHURCH.'I would say, In reply to the
Senator that, in the first place, there would
be nothing to preclude whatever any plan-
ning on any military mission. Yet, on the
basis of precedents, the President's power as
Commander in Chief to undertake military
action is strictly limited to actions restricted
? both in scope and time, and which are di-
rectly related to the need to protect Ameri-
can troops in the field.
Mr. STENNIS. While I am on that, the
Senator does recognize that it takes time,
and cannot always be foretold exactly?
Mr. CHURCH. Yes, I appreciate that there
is no way to fortell precisely the length of
an intervention.
Mr. AIKEN, Mr, President, will the Senator
yield?
Mr. GRAVEL. I yield to the Senator from
Vermont for an observation.
Mr. AIKEN. Mr. President, I do not think
the Committee on Foreign Relations now
takes a position much different than it. took
last spring. If an incursion is necessary for
the safety of our men, there would be no ob-
jection, but an invasion, which, as stated by
the Senator from Mississippi, would require
a long time in preparation and probably a
long time to carry out, would have to be
reported back,to the Senate before it was
undertaken. The committee did make it sharp such constitutional powers as vest in the
et i the role of Commander in
Several Senators addressed the Chair,
Mr. GRAVEL, I yield to the Senator from
Alabama.
Mr. SPARKMAN. May I say that I did not
understand that the Senator from Missis-
sippi was speaking of an invasion. The term
"incursion" was used, I think,'in referring to
it. But I think it is the objective that Is
controlling-in other words, the protection
of American lives.
Mr. STENNIS. The Senator is correct, and
my question was based on the Incursion or
the thrust, rather than a large scale invasion.
Mr. SPARKMAN. To protect American lives.
Mr. STENNIS. Primarily to protect the lives
of our soldiers, our military men. I did make
the point that sometimes it took weeks even
to plan an incursion and get ready for it,
Mr, SPARKMAN. I wish to say that there is
nothing in here that intends to limit the
President's constitutional powers to act in
an emergency in order to protect American
lives.
Mr. STENNIS. I appreciate the Senator's
answer; and, if I may respond quite briefly
to the Senator from Idaho, Mr. President, I
do not think it is definitely known, accord-
ing to the precedents of history or according
to this debate, just what the extent of the
President's powers as Commander in Chief
is. I think it depends greatly on the circum-
stances. I do not want any hard law here that
would create any cloud or any doubt in any
President's mind as to what his responsibil-
ities are. I want to leave him with the re-
sponsibilities as well as the powers, If we do
not leave the powers and the responsibilities
with him, then it is not his fault or he is not
to blame, and we have no head of State to
that extent.
Mr. SPARKMAN. There Is no. effort here to
limit the President's emergency powers or his
constitutional powers,
Mr. STENNIS. Yes. That is why I am so con-
cerned about this. The point first came up, as
far as written law is concerned, in the mili-
tary procurement bill. The battle of the
sanctuaries was on then, and we put lan-
guage in there that was approved by this
body, that he would not be restricted as long
as it was tied to our men and their safety in
the draw-down. The battle over that lan-
guage is going on now in appropriation bills
and elsewhere, as well as here.
It seems to me that the colloquy has made
it clear that this language does not take any
of the responsibility nor the power away
from the President of the United States to
do what he thinks is reasonably necessary,
within reasonable limitations of time, in de-
stroying arsenals, armories, armies, or any-
thing else that is in close proximity to our
borders, which we have designated by the
general term "sanctuaries," as in the past.
Mr. CHURCH. Mr. President, may I make
one observation? Will the Senator yield for
that purpose?
Mr. STENNIS. I yield.
Mr. CHURCH. It Is perfectly true that it
does not lie within the power of this body,
even if we were to harbor an intention to do
so, to curtail the constitutional powers of the
President as Commander in Chief,
What we seek to do here is assert con-
gressional powers over the spending of the
public money. That is within our authority.
It is clear, as far as my evidence Indicates,
that the President is now willing to acqui-
esce in a limitation of this kind imposed
upon the funds made available in this bill
and in other bills, vis-a-vis Cambodia.
It follows that if the President were later
to decide that it is in the national interest
to repeat an extended, full scale military
invasion of Cambodia, he would come back
to Congress and ask our consent.
We are exercising our power. I recognize
that it is not within our reach to undermine
Mr. CHURCH. In view of the fact that
the administration has accepted the per-
tinent language in the Senate version of
the supplemental foreign assistance au-
thorization bill, including the Cooper-
Church amendment, and the. fact that
the House and Senate conferees, repre-
senting the two legislative committees
concerned, have concurred in that lan-
guage, I hope it will now prove possible
to eliminate from the appropriations
conference reports those provisions that
contradict and undercut these provisions
in the authorizing legislation. If such an
accommodation could be reached, we
could then complete our legislative work
on all the unfinished defense and foreign
aid appropriation measures,
UNSNARLING TH O AID
TANGLE
Mr. SYMINGTON. Mr. President, I do
not think that the editorial in this morn-
ing's Washington Post, entitled "Un-
snarling the Cambodia Aid Tangle,"
should stand without comment.
The editorial complains that the "po-
tentialities for a misreading" of the words
and deeds of American legislators
"should be apparent to anyone who casts
even a casual glance at the Senate's de-
bate on whether its voting of $255 mil-
lion in aid to Cambodia constitutes a
'commitment' or not."
It is obvious to me, from reading the
editorial, that the writer has cast only a
casual glance-and nothing more-at
the Senate debate.
The editorial expresses respect for Sen-
ator FULsRICHT'S concept "that the Sen-
ate must assert its constitutional duty to
approve foreign commitments." But it
then goes on to say that the chairman of
the Foreign Relations Committee failed
to assert that duty because, the editorial
continues, he should have been emphasiz-
ing that approval of the money was not
equivalent to a treaty, and attempting "to
nail down the administration tightly to
that other interpretation," instead of
charging, as he did and as others did,
that "approval of this money is equiva-
What more would the writer have
had Senator FULBRIGHT and other Sena-
tors who agreed with him do if they be-
lieved that approving the President's sup-
plemental aid request constituted sena-
torial endorsement of a commitment
which was, in fact, as much of a commit-
ment as a treaty would have been.
The committee did include an amend-
ment to the bill which made it clear that
the giving of aid should not be construed
as a commitment to come to the defense
of Cambodia. But some members of the
Senate feel that approval of the funds
does constitute a commitment neverthe-
less-if a quarter of a billion dollars a
year to a nation of 6 million does not
involve a commitment; what does?
In fact, the staff report prepared for
the committee, a portion of which the.
Post reprints on its editorial page, states
clearly that the Cambodians have cer-
tainly inferred that the military assis-
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December 21, 1970 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE S 20963
fence program already ' begun-and be- without any discussion. If so, would it thirds vote. It is rather an invitation to the
gun, it should be noted, by the President not have been more constructive to have obstructionists to keep on talking. One of
without congressional authorization- stated that view? the most constructive proposals to come be-
has been taken by the Cambodians to I do not believe this editorial does jus- fore Congress in recent years-the proposed
constitute a commitment of support. tice to this debate or contribute to public constitutional amendment for direct election
That is exactly the point that was understanding of the important issues of the Pt-failed a few months ago
g because the e S nt Senate -majority in favor r of it
made time and, again during the debate. involved. could not muster a two-third vote to end a
Senator Fulbright argued that for this As this and other comparable matters filibuster. In our view, the Senate's first order
reason the Senate should. look carefully develop, whether the chairman of the of business in 1971 should be reform of its
at what to date has been only a Presi- Senate Foreign Relations Committee is cloture rule.
dential action before lending their en- right, or whether he is wrong, it should
dorsement to that decision, having in be becoming more clear that what Chair- [From the Washington Post, Dec. 21, 19701
mind the fact-that congressional pass- man FULBRIGHT is really doing in these UNSNARLING THE CAMBODIA AID TANGLE
age of foreign aid authorizations and closing days is to stand up. for the dig- It is difficult, indeed, misleading and arti-
appropriations were cited by Secretary nity, the independence, and the constitu- ficial, to separate the way the Senate has
Rusk and other officials of the previous tional responsibility of the Senate. been conducting its business from the spe-
administration as commitments to the I ask unanimous consent that the more nature rf its business, and nowhere
security of South Vietnam. Washington Post's editorials, to which I more so than in respect to its deliberations on military aid to As for the question of whether mili- have referred, dated December 19 and Americans may be as to just pwhat the Sen-
tary and economic assistance to Cam- December 21 together with the Post's ex- ate has done, we have considerable sympathy
bodia, once begun, will be "open ended," cerpt from the committee staff report for those foreigners--in Phnom Penh, Sal-
It should be obvious that since no one Cambodia: December 1970, be printed in gon, Hanoi and elsewhere-who are faced
knows the enemy's intentions in Cam- the RECORD at the conclusion of my re- with the task of determining what the Sen-
bodia, it is fair to assume that the end marks. ate's actions mean to them. If diplomats,
to military and economic assistance to There being no objection, the mate- who count themselves experts at this sort of
Cambodia is certainly not in sight. rial was ordered to be printed in the think thing, often
how foreign each other's may sea"
The commitment to provide money to RECORD, as follows: n governments may toad
Vietnam has proved to be open ended. (From the Washington the words and deeds of American legislators.
Post, Dec. 19, 19701 The potentialities for a misreading sghould be
Why will the commitment to Cambodia 'r Fu.IBusTER SENATE apparent to anyone who casts even a casual
not be? For some years this newspaper has con- glance at the Senate's debate on whether
The Cambodians are, after all, fight- tended that the Senate is not a modern leg- its voting of $255 million in aid to Cambodia
Ing the same enemy and are beginning islative body because of its toleration of un- constitutes a "commitment" or not.
their fight far less well equipped than limited debate. During the last few weeks the Granted that a certain amount of am-
the-South Vietnamese. The staff report, Senate itself appears to have proved the point biguity is inherent in the purpose of Amer-
which the editorial cites with approval, beyond the shadow of a doubt. ican policy and in the nature of the do-
The filibusters in the lame-duck session mestic political setting of that policy, the
states in this connection: have been of the mini variety, but their re- Senate still should have been able to speak
It seems clear that providing effective as- suit has been to throw the legislative pro- with a clearer voice. For the lapse, we place
sistance to Cambodia--sul clent for It to gram into a state of deep confusion and the chief responsibility on Mr. Fulbright.
train, arm, equip and sustain in the field a frustration. The Senate has been literally His guiding concept, as we understand (and
large enough force to hold the present line unable to cope with several of the great is- respect) It, is that the Senate must assert
miiitarIly-will require a Military Assistance sues of the day because a few of its members its constitutional duty to approve foreign
Program of several years duration and-given insist on thwarting the majority will. There commitments. Yet that is precisely what the
the effect the war has already had on the was a time when the word "filibuster" con- chairman of the Foreign Relations Commit-
economy, not to mention the effect the con- jured up images of long-winded Southerners tee failed to do. Quite typical was his pettish
tinued fighting will have-a concomitant talking a civil rights measure to death. Now charge that "approval of this money is equiv-
program of related economic assistance. It is the commonest tactic of liberals and alent to a treaty"; he should have been as-
Would this writer care to guess at conservatives alike and of tiny factions as serting exactly the opposite and attempting
what that total CQ well as large minorities. to nail down the administration tightly to
how long it assistance will to Despite the great pressure on the Senate that other interpretation. And having re-
What tha wiol total cosStr, of
to clear its congested calendar in the few ceived from two of his own staff members
continue? The administration certainly days that remain, Senators Fulbright and a very balanced and perceptive report on
has not been willing to do so; indeed Gravel held up the foreign aid bill for two Cambodia, excerpted elsewhere on this page
how could they? days in a futile effort to convince their col- "For the Record," he let it wither unpicked
In previous editorials, the Post has leagues that the proposed $255 million in on the vine. No amount of latter-day com-
criticized the ct, that dome Senato s ill- aid for Cambodia would lead to a commit- plaining that the President has stolen the
Fulbright's
listed on debating for 2 days the question men tto the hough present
the legislation itself would inadequate pursuit wi of obscure "thief."
of the Senate's endorsing $255, million in prohibit the President from sending in any Fortunately, Senators Church and Cooper
military and economic assistance for ground troops or military advisers. Fortu- were there to do the essential work of tack-
Cambodia. But last spring and summer, nately a vote was finally permitted. The Sen. dg on to the aid money provisions banning
those opposed to the Cooper-Church ate has been further plagued by threats of use of American ground forces or military
amendment tied the Senate up for some extended debate on the trade bill and on the advisers in Cambodia. Fairly, Mr. Church
7 weelss.beeaus`e they did not want to see conference report involving the controversial saluted his own handiwork as a successful-
that amendment brought to a vote until SST project. This newspaper has opposed if belated-application of control on the
American forces were withdrawn from both the trade bill and the SST, but we do Executive, Secretary of State Rogers' letter
Cambodia. not condone stringing out the debate so as late Saturday, in which he said "the ad-
ad-
to prevent a vote. ministration's programs, policies and inten-
The debate last ,summer, which re- The basic trouble is, of course, that the tions in Cambodia in no way conflict" with
volved around the question of commit- Senate has dawdled along through most of the Cooper-Church language, was a wel-
ting American ground forces to Cam- Its 1970 session. Several long filibusters when come-if even more belated-acknowledge-
bodia, was described in an editorial on the pressure was less intense left it with an ment of an administration position that
Dec a December But as "of truly national signif session approached. len as the end of ould made icit months ago.
ated-acknomany oft is bEarliera In bhe week, eM . Fulbright de-
Ascribe any significance at all to a de- euphemism customarily employed by the A- endorse henlargementhof funds
war," but this
bate on the question of beginning a mill- libusters themselves. The seven weeks of dis- Is an arch misreading. Voting the funds
taro and economic assistance program to cussion of the Cooper-Church amendment to means providing the means for Cambodia to
Cambodia which will run into at least limit the war in Cambodia, for egample, was continue the policies--such as closing down
hundreds lions of dollars and per- of truly national significance. Yet the fact Sihanoukville and keeping heat on the sanc-
Silto U l0 remains that a legislative body confronted
P _ _~? _ tuariea alongside Vietnam-that are integral
$ the
by a mountain of vital Issues can no lor to writer of this editorial So much afford the luxury of unlimited debate on any Mr. Futibright ion wIn nam. it
ants to see full Cant be tune
in favor of the administration's proposal thing. the ght wants tll rcoores use
that it is unwilling to see the Senate take Nor Is there any real hope in the cloture Rather, tnod sanctuaries? ctse not.
any action but approve this program rule which can be invoked , suspect u that he e did n nootthink
only on n a a two- the matter through.
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE December 21,_ 1970
Some Cambodians have 'inferred," the
staff report to Mr. Fuibright stated, that the
American, aid program constitutes a com-
mitment to them. Their inference is prob-
ably unavoidable but it Is essential that
Americans not contribute to or reinforce it. It
was the Cambodians, faced with what they
believe to be an Invasion by foreigners
(North Vietnamese), who came to the United
States for aid, Washington had its own rea-
sons to offer help-in order to get on with
Vietnamization-and so a deal was made.
This is what the administration says, though
not so inelegantly, and this Is what it should
be held to. The Senate, which controls the
money, has the power to do precisely that.
"Unwise" the aid may or may not be, as
Senator Gravel charged. "Open-ended," it
need not be, if the Senate will but do its
job.
The language in the Defense appropria-
tions bill authorizing the President to take
any action he wishes to promote withdrawal
of United States forces from Southeast Asia
and to retrieve American POWs, was mis-
chievous, provocative and unnecessary. It
should have been stricken long before the
Rogers' letter of Saturday broke the logjam of
which it was a central part. The thrust of any
Senate language on Cambodia and Vietnam
ought to be to define and circumscribe Ex-
ecutive actions nad thereby to share respon-
sibility for them within the limits set. It is
irresponsible to write blank checks for the
President, which in any case he could write
and spend for himself if he were so minded-
if he were so foolishly and arrogantly
minded, that is.
[From the Washingtonian, February 19701
THE WASHINGTON POST WENT UP THE HILL
WITH 550,000 MEN; THE WASHINGTON POST
CAME DOWN THE HILL, AND NE'ER WENT UP
AGAIN
The making of Vietnam policy has been
a special agony for Presidents Eisenhower,
Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. But these ex-
cerpts from the Washington Post editorial
page show why no Commander In Chief has
lost much sleep worrying about what this
guide to right thinking would have to say.
November 16, 1960-When the United
States undertakes the responsibility of spon-
soring and defending a government, however,
a painful dilemma arises. This country does
not, or should not, want satellites. But re-
sponsibility without effective direction is the
most vexing of all relationships.
April 7, 1961-The United States has a
major interest in the defense of Vietnam,
not only because of the vast amounts of
economic and military aid (which only re-
cently has been turned to the all-important
guerrilla warfare training), but also because
American prestige is very much Involved in
the effort to protect the Vietnamese people
from Communist absorption.
February 25, 1962-We must take up our
great-power burdens and fight our proxy
wars with an awareness that the pursuit of
these military purposes endangers not only
our forces in the field but our institutions
and our beliefs at home.
-December 18, 1963-A curious situation
prevails in the dirty war and murky politics
of Vietnam- The United States, which sup-
ports the regime in the South, can't afford
to lose. Defeat would undermine its posi-
tions in Southeast Asia and its prestige every-
where.
February 21, 1964-It can be argued, with
much logic, that the United States must
either do a great deal more in South Viet-
nam, or else do a great deal less. Its present
posture is one likely to get it neither the
fruits of intervention nor the credit for a
peaceful alternative.
May 15, 1964-An on-the-spot military
judgment at the highest level preceded the
assignment of seventy-five bombers to South
Vietnam and the assumption must be that
this Is what the situation requires. Those archives for utterance of a wartime leader
who have a different view may lack the in- that would exceed it in candor and restraint.
formation on which the decision was made. October 18, 1967-There is nothing mu-
July 28, 1964-The Overriding danger is tually exclusive about the several reasons
that, in this mood of frustration and despair, we fight this war. It is, at once, a war for
unsound and radical solutions will come to the independence and integrity of South
seem the only ones offering a release from Vietnam; a war to fulfill treaty commit-
present pains. More than ever, this is a time ments; a war to check aggression; a war to
for steadfastness and courage and avoidance limit Chinese expansion; and a war against
of panic. This Is the Administration's pre- Communism. These are not contradictory
scription. or conflicting purposes. But it makes a great
August 12, 1964-The affair in the Tonkin deal of difference which aspect of the war is
Gulf should demonstrate to those who under- emphasized.
take aggression against South Vietnam that October 22, 1967-(About the Peace March
they enjoy no permanent immunity to what- on the Pentagon.) It is a tragedy enough"
ever military response the United States can for dissent to bring violence and violations
make most effectively. of the law. It is a double tragedy when dis-
February 18, 1965-The violent words and sent growing out of a yearning for peace
violent acts of the past few days disclose with raises a very real threat of prolonging a
dreadful clarity that Vietnam is not an iso- war.
lated battlefield but a part of a long war October 26, 1967-Still, there is nothing
which the Communist world seems deter- that say generals must answer irrelevant
mined to continue until every vestige of and hypothetical questions from Senators.
Western power and Influence has been driven November 14, 1967-It is too late for the
from Asia. President to expect silence as the neces-
March 22, 1965-We Slope that President sary ingredient of this strategy. That he now
Johnson will order the Defense Department needs a minimum of dissent and all the co-
to forgo the use of all gas and napalm in this operation he can get Is obvious.
war theater at once. The people of this coun- November 26, 1967-It can no longer be
try are prepared for and equal to the hard argued that we do not have a plan and a
measures that wax dictates, when those mea- timetable and a grand strategy for getting
ures are clearly inescapable and unavoidable out of Vietnam. The program laid out by
in the prosecution of a military purpose. General Westmoreland last week is nearly
They will not be reconciled to the use of overpowering in the precision of its prom-
such weapons where alternate means of de- ises and the almost total absence of quali-
fense exist. flcations or doubt.
March 26, 1965-There is a considerable February 25, 1968-That virtue has been
amount of pious hypocrisy in some of the diminished by the attacks made upon the
moans of outrage over the use of nontoxic integrity of the foundations of the Tonkin
gases in South Vietnam. Gulf Resolution. No doubt this has been
August 11, 1965-President Johnson's done in good conscience, but the Senators,
statement that there is no substantial divi- nevertheless, have impaired the force and
ston in the country or in Congress about the effect of any assertion of national purpose.
government's Vietnam policies is certainly February 29, 1968-The tone and temper of
right if "division" means disagreement on the the Vietnam debate is getting uglier at just
American presence in South Vietnam or im- the moment when the need is greatest for
plies dissent that is politically important. a national display of unity and resolve.
August 15, 1965-During the course of March 6, 1968-it may even be necessary
actual fighting, civilians may be wounded to begin by acknowledging miscalculation-
and killed and the tide of battle may engulf or failure-in the strategy that has carried
and destroy civilian homes. These are tale- us from the Tonkin Resolution of 1964, to
mities commonly incident to such warfare. the first tentative landing of combat troops
But these tragedies differ from the wilful and in early 1965 and the beginning of the bomb-
deliberate destruction of homes in reprisal. ing of the North, and on to the present in-
Thank goodness the Marines are not en- volvement of more than 500,000 United States
gaged in that kind of barbarism. combat troops in a struggle with no clearly
October 18, 1965-If the demonstrations did visible end-result in sight.
little mischief and caused little misunder- July 22, 1968-But an individual's passion-
standing in this country, they may have ate dislike for the war in Vietnam (as distin-
done quite a bit of mischief abroad. The guished from war in general) is likely to be
National Liberation Front, for many long related to his political views, his attitude to-
months, has been counting on public opin- ward Communism, his concept of the United
ion in the United States to accomplish what States' role in world affairs, or other factors
It has been unable to achieve by armed force, only indirectly related to conscience.
They are bound to see the straggling February 28, 1969-Optimism, Progress.
marchers, the ineffectual protest meetings, Victory. There had been optimism from John
and the feeble demonstrations through a F. Kennedy in 1963, from General Maxwell
prism made out of their own narrow and Taylor in 1964, from Robert McNamara in
restricted experience. 1965, Henry Cabot Lodge in 1966, General
April 15, 1966-We are in South Vietnam William Westmoreland in 1967, and Robert
to preserve the right of a small people to Komer in 1968. These were the men in charge,
govern themselves and make their own but their predictions were not believed: not
choices. That principle will be vindicated by the press, and ultimately not by the pub-
whatever the course the people choose. We lic. Too many of the predictions had been
have undertaken to preserve their oppor- wrong. Since 1963, the record of the skeptics
tunity to make a choice. and the pessimists has been excellent.
August 27, 1966-This newspaper has long April 19, 1969-Part of the trouble with
supported the basic aims and objectives of analyzing the war is whom to believe, and
Administration policy in Vietnam. when.
September 5, 1966-This is, in a very real September 10, 1969-And yet we slid or
sense, the defense of the United States. The stumbled into the Vietnam involvement in
Administration has not made enough of the a big way that hasn't worked, and isn't work-
point that we are in Southeast Asia, funda- ing now.
mentally, because our own vital interest is September 13, 1969-Conceivably, if the
involved .... The stark fact remains that President or others in authority ever get
this is a struggle about the organization of around to telling us what they are up to
the world. In Vietnam, in terms that are somewhat more
January 12, 1967-Congress and the coup- believable, it will make more sense.
try heard from the President a careful, calm, October 17, 1969-it would please us if he
and measured discussion of the outlook In (Nixon) were to move faster, even as we
South Vietnam. One might search the acknowledge that the final decisions must
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December 21, 1970 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE
be his alone. Perhaps the Wisest way for the
President to read the Moratorium is as fresh
and forceful evidence of the great constitu-
ency available in support of his every step
to end the war.
November 18, 1969--On Saturday and Sun-
day, the President by his own account was
preoccupied with the football games. It was
a fine afternoon for watching football, he Is
quoted as saying on Saturday, and for sheer
piquancy, we have not heard the likes of that
since Marie Antoinette.
December 2, 1969-In the process of saving
the country, the allies are destroying it.
December 10, 1969-But it all came down
to the same thing-when will it end? And
while the President couldn't say, presumably
because he doesn't know, what he did say
amounted to far and away the most con-
fident and optimistic prospectus he has yet
given us on the war.
December 17, 1969--So we are engaged in
an open-ended exercise In confidence-build-
ing which will end presumably, only when
we are absolutely positive that the South
Vietnamese have acquired the capacity, with
or without a formal settlement, to guarantee
their own salvation, free of Communist in-
fluence, forever.
U.S. PARTICIPATION IN INCREASES
IN THE RESOURCES OF CERTAIN
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL IN-
hie nrgnmen .- 'Ul?
bright insg tea into theme ree
o ;A without rlise ussinn LJe
two Forei n Relation:.
i, ee s t a f members
R bra T r,nes flr~ _ e~
L~gnstein. who visited Cam
bodia 'in December. The Z
e ed
tom:
? The Cambodian Army and
Air Force are "completely de-
lpendent" on the United States
for weapons; that it is "a uni?
ersally held assumption" in
dia that the United
gventually "will come
soldiers actually were run-
ning the training operation.
The report concluded that
sustaining Premier Lon Nol'sl
government obviously would
require a longterm U.S. arms
aid commitment.
Sen. Frank Church (D-Idaho)!
disagreed with Gravel and
Fulbright that approval of the
Cambodia authorization would'
be a U.S. commitment. "We
wrote the' bill in such a way
that we think it gives us statu-
tory protection against Cam
bodia becoming another Viet-
nam," Church said, referring
to the restrictions placed in
the bill by the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee.
In the 61-to-33 vote. on the :Cambodia authorization, most
'Northern Democrats voted to
cut it, as did Maryland's two;
senators. Both Virginia sen
ators voted with Mr. Nixon.l
Mansfield, in warning of
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NEW YORK r11M l",
While the conferencee worn,
mittee was edifying
CONFEREES ALTER { hibiyion in the defense appro-
priations bill, the Senate was
(~ moving toward passage of a $1-i
BAN ON TROOP U T~~E billion oreign aid authorization
bill. This contains an amend-
ment, voted yesterday by the
Grant Leeway if Pullout in Senate Foreign R elaati nse Coen-
mittee specifying
Vietnam is imperiled ident could not use aid funto send American . ground
troops or military advisers to
By JOHN W. FINNEY Cambodia. prepared to
Special to The New York Times The Senate wasprep
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15-A! accept the amendment, which
House-Senate conference cam the Administration
Immediate Senate a
mittee introduced a possible posing. was
loophole today in the proposed tion on the legislation Senator
legislative restraints on Presi- blocked however, by
dent Nixon's power to send. J, W. Fulbright, Democrat of foe of the
combat ground troops to Cam- Arkansas, a Hemajor tested that
bodia. Vietnam war. p
The committee, which was the Senate was moving with
convened to reconcile House "undue haste" to endorse an
and senate differences on the "open-ended commitment" to
$66-billion defense appropria- the Cambodian Government
tions bill, modified a restriction Stennis in Exchange
added in the Senate. The Sen-
ate version specified that none By Ministration, Senator John
,the funds could be uby Stennis, Democrat of Miss slip
the President to send ground clarify the intent
combat troops to Cambodia, of? the amendment to mendment in a floor
Laos or Thailand.
But at the insistence of the exchange with Senator Frank
House conferees and reportedly Church Democrat ofridaho, and
with Nixon Administration sup- a' sor iasked if the
Stennis
port, that provision was modi- Senator of the
fled to make clear that it would amendment would prohibit the
president, as Commander in
taking not prevent action the in Cambodia, Presi from Chieffrom again sending in
sanc-
Laos or Thailand "land o troop's s against
Cambodia.teSenator
xiramote the safe and o er tuar
I r"'L115 , ant Church replied that the amend-
ment would not prevent the
cif TT c rorrr~c
in t P rPleasE of president from underta ing
anc hP1d as o >_r loners of "precautionary actions," such
as "raids" or "lunges" across
incursion in Cambodia the Cambodian border to p o-
revert the
After American g continued, it would p
dia last May 1, the Adround tect American troops.
President from committing
troops were sent into Combo-1. substantial number of troops
t a
reason ration said that one reason for' for war an extended period in "a
the campaign had been to pro- in Cambodia" without o oa
tect the withdrawal program by fairing Congressional app
striking at suspected Commu- Senator Stennis interpreted
this supply bathe Inaction view of this to mean that the amend-
some position, Senators, the such re as Senator acorment "does not take away the
so responsibilities or power of the
Mike Mansfield, the majority president to do whut he thinks
leader, was that the conference necessary to destroy armies,
committee modification had arsenals or anything else."
"vitiated" the effectiveness of ~
the restraints that the Senate
has been seeking to Impose a
future military involvement in
Cambodia.
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THE WASHINGTON POST
Aid Bill
Ties Up
Senate
3 Members
Delay Action
On Cambodia
By Spencer Rich
confer
dollar
billion, about $2.1 billion less
than the administration had
sought.
The conferees watered down
a Senate provision barring use
of any of the funds for intro-
ducing American ground com-
bat troops into Laos, Thailand
or Cambodia. ; hadded lan-
gua a makin `cl~t
11 t~h rr~ m t; is a {ion h ojld
be construe ng
the rest ent from tak' c-
o
promote the safe and orderly
w R rawwaT or_ isengacmeit
AnIqUUM
of war."
Washington Post Staff Writer
The Senate plunged into
a new debate on President
Nixon's Cambodia policy,
yesterday that blocked con-
sideration of the big Social
Security-trade-welfare bill
and tied the chamber, at
least temporarily, into par-
liamentary knots.
Sens. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska)
and Stuart Symington (D-Mo.),
together with Foreign Rela-
tions Committee Chairman J.
W. Fulbright (D-Ark.), argued
that a provision in a foreign
aid supplemental authoriza.
tion supplying $155 million in
new arms aid to Cambodia
represents, in effect, a request
for congressional sanction of
what Gravel called an "un-
wise" and "open-ended com-
mitment to a new regime in
Southeast Asia."
Gravel moved to kill the
$155 million authorization
(leaving in another $100 mil-
lion already spent on Cam-
bodia by the President). Then
he and Fulbright, contending
1they wished to air the issue at
length so senators would know
`what they were really voting
on held the floor from before
Senate oacxers or tree origi-
nal provision said the change
appeared to open up some un-
desirable loopholes, making
the provision substantially
less binding than a similar re-
striction inserted in the for-
eign aid authorization meas-
ure, which, Sen. Frank Church
(D-Idaho) said, had President
_N'ixon's personal endorsement.
The aid authorization, as re-
ported by the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, bore provi-
sions barring use of any of the
funds for introduction of U.S.
ground troops or military ad-
visers into Cambodia, and stat-
ing specifically that U.S. mili-
tary and economic assistance
to Cambodia "shall not be con-
strued as a commitment by
the United States to Cambodia
by its defense."
Church said he had dis-
cussed this matter with Mr.
Nixon at the White House
Monday night and "the Presi-
dent told me . . . that he did
not take exception to the ac-
tion of the committee in writ-
ing in the restrictive lan-
guage."
Recalling that last spring,
during the Cambodia action
the White House had opposed
similar language, Church said
"We have won our fight fox
White House recognition that
except in certain emergency
ryonilitions, congressional as
sent was needed before the
J .President could send troops t(
another country for ground
noon until after dark and re-
fused to allow a vote despite
'pleas from Majority Leader
DATE '7( PAGE'
language clearly barred a
lengthy, large-scale invasion of
Car'nbodia by the United
States, but would allow minor
rescue operations and "precau-
tionary action" to protect U.S.
troops in the field in South
Vietnam.
As for another action of the
scope and duration of the six-
.week Cambodia operation of
last spring, Church refused to
say absolutely whether that
would be permitted by the
new language. Permi sible
strikes are "strictly limited to
actions restricted both in
scope and in time and . . . di-
recty related to protection of,
American troops in the field,"
he ' said, adding that he
couldn't pledge that the lan-
guage "would not preclude an
invasion of Cambodia on the
scale and for the length of
time that took place last sum-
mer."
"An incursion there would,
he all right, but an invasion
no," said committee member
George D. Aiken (R-Vt.).
Supporters of the bill re-
peatedly cited the statements
of Mr. Nixon and Secretary of
State William P. Rogers that
the United States had no in-
tention of waging a ground
war in Cambodia.
"Up to this point we've had
a presidential policy (of aid to
Cambodia)," said Gravel. "If
we vote these funds today, we
now make it a congressional
policy, a national policy."
Fulbright and Gravel
argued that regardless of the
restrictive language in the
supplemental authorization
bill, approval of the $155 mil-
lion ! in new funds for Cam-
bodia would be taken as a
commitment to support the
Cambodian regime which
could eventually widen into di-
rect U.S. intervention.
Administration stalwart Bob
Dole, (R-Kan.) shot back, "if I
had , a choice, I'd rather send
dollars than more American
men"' and argued that by pro-
vidi1g arms aid, the United
draw its own troops.
e ervices Committee
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14liss.), Church said the F'or-
eigr. Relations Committee's
Church, citing the Presi-
dent's record in withdrawing
troops from Vietnam ("aver-
age withdrawal has proceeded
at the rate of 2,500 a week for
nearly two years"), said the re-
strictive language inserted by
the committee would assure
"that Cambodia will not be-,
come another Vietnam."
The bill before the Senate
would authorize $535 million
in special foreign aid requests,
including the $155 million in
new funds for Cambodia, and
$100 million to restore funds
already spent for Cambodia.
Sen. John J. Williams (R-
IDel.) proposed language add-
ing Israel to the countries
from which U.S. ground troops
were barred, but this was ta-
I.bled (killed), 66 to 20.
Willaams called his proposal j
consistent with the spirit of re-
quiring the President to seek
congressional authority for
new commitments, but Sen.
Jacob K. Javits(R-N.Y.) said
the bill didn't deal with Israel
and the proposal would upset
!Mideast peace efforts.
While the dispute rages
over the authorization bill, the
Transportation Department
funds bill, containing $210 mil-
lion for the supersonic trans-
port, and the huge Social Se-
curity package, were held
from the floor.
If the Social Security meas-
ure ever gets there, supporters
of the administration's embat-
tled Family Assistance Plan
are planning to object to adop-
tion of the Finance Commit-
tee's -amendments and will
move immediately to add fam-
ily assistance on a floor vote
on the first provision read.
They said parliamentary
objections had been cleared
up, and the leadership hadl
promised to help in this ma-
neuver. ,
In the defense appropria-'
tions conference, conferees
settled on $18 million for the
"Freedom Fighter" airplane
for which the Senate had cut
all funds; approved $200 mil-
lion for financially troubled
Lockheed Aircraft Corp. to
continue work on the C-5A
military transport, and pro,
vided $188.5 million for pro-
curement of one submarine
and advance work on another.
The House had voted $417.5
million for destroyers, sub-
mariries and tenders; the ad-
i
NEW YORK TIMES
SFA1E III1 BACKS
Ai FOR CAMBONA,
BUT BARS TROOPS
Foreign Relations Committee
Also Asserts That Funds
Are Not a Commitment
By JOHN W. FINNEY
Special to The New York Times J
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14
The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee today approved the;
Administration's $255-million!
program of military aid for
Cambodia but with a restric-
tion prohibiting the President
from sending American ground
troops or advisers to Cambodia.
The committee also stipulated
that the aid should not be in-
terpreted as a commitment by
the United States to defend the
Cambodian Government.
These restrictions, which ap-
parently are acceptable to the
executive branch, were incor-
porated by the committee in an
amendment attached to a bill
passed by the House, author-
izing $535-million in supple-
mentary military and economic
aid for several countries in
Asia and the Middle East.
Restoration of Funds Sought
The most controversial item
in the Administration's package
is a request for $85-million in
military aid and $70-million in
economic aid for Cambodia,
plus restoration of $100-million
for military aid funds previous-
ly transferred to the Govern-
ment of Premier Lon Nol.
The authorization measure
for foreign aid is scheduled to
be considered by the Senate to-
morrow. With the Administra-
tion apparently prepared to ac-
cept- the Foreign Relations
Committee's restrictive amend-
ment, the bill is expected to be
approved quickly by the Sen-
jate and then accepted in a
Senate-House conference com-
! mittee.
Another foreign aid measure,
this one an appropriations bill,
was approved by the Senate]
today, The $2-billion supple-
mental appropriations bill con-
tained $1.03-,billion in aid funds
requested by the Administra-
tion, including $500-million for
military credit sales to Israel.
The Israeli funds have already
been authorized by Congress,
but the appropriations bill spec-
ified that the other funds can-
not be spent until they have
been authorized in separate
legislation.
The committee amendment,
adopted by a unanimous voice
vote, was offered by Senator
John Sherman Cooper, Republi-
can of Kentucky, and Senator
Frank Church, Democrat of
Idaho, and co-sponsored by Sen-
ator Jacob K. Javits, Republican
of New York, Senator George D.
Aiken, Republican of Vermont,
Senator Clifford P. Case, Repub-
Another indication of the
Administration's willingness to
accept the amendment-while
not openly endorsing it was
a telephone cail.Saturday from
Secretary of State William P.
Rogers to Senator Javits.. In
that call, according to Senate
sources, Mr. Rogers in effect
accepted restrictive language
and in turn asked Senator Jav-
its's help in .getting the legisla-
tion out of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee.
In part, Mr. Rogers's attitude'
seemed to be influenced by a
debate going on In the Ad-
ministration over whether to-
bypass the Foreign Relations
Committee on future legislation
on military aid. Mr. Rogers
was said to have told Senator
Javits that the State Depart-
ment, in its argument with the
.Defense Department, wanted to
work through the Foreign Re-
lations Committee and that its
case would be greatly strength-
s ened if the committee would
1 send to the Senate the enter-
Igen foreign aid legislation
iregt Sted by President Nixon
in mfd-November.
lican of New Jersey, and Sena
for Mike Mansfield, Democrat
of Montana and the majority
leader.
In its essential features, the
amendment corresponds to the
Cooper-Church Amendment onj
Cambodia, which was resisted(
by the Administration when the
Senate attached it last summer
to a bill on foreign military,
sales. Because of Administra-I
lion opposition to the amend-1
lent, the military sales bill has!
since become deadlocked in at
Senate-House conference com-j
mittee.
But this time the Administra-l
tion is apparently prepared, to,
accept a modified version of the
Cooper-Church Amendment as
the price it must pay for getting
the foreign aid authorizations
legislation through Congress.
Senator Cooper said that hel
had advised "high sources" ins
the Administration that the;
restrictive amendment would
be offered and that "thus F,r-!
there have been no objection
The amendment apppproved to-
day does not, in effect, place
any Congressional restrictions
on. the Administration, which;
has emphasized that the aid'
program " diid not represent a
defense commitment to the
Cambodian Government a.ndl
that there were no plans to
send advisers or combat troops
to Cambodia.
Thus the Administration was
in a position where it could
accept the amendment and the
Cooper-Church trees could say
that they had established the
principle that the President
should not commit the nation
to a war in Cambodia without
the consent of Congress.
Two Provisions opposed by
the Administration were elimi-
nated from the original Cooper-
Church Amendment. One would
ihave prohibited the United
States from contracting with
? third countries--such as ? Thai-
land or South Vietnam to pro-
vide military advisers or droops
to Cambodia; the other would
have prohibited the United
States from providing combat
air support for Cambodian
troops.
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THE EVENING STAR DATE
Under the new amendment the
President would have to give
30-day prior notice, but "in case
of an emergency," said Church,
this period could be whittled
down to 10 days.
Church said that the commit-
tee had "indications" from the
administration that the Presi-
dent will accept these restric-
tions. He refused to go into de-
tail.
run" by voting out its own ver-
sion of the $535 million-
including Cambodia-which still
had to be authorized in the $1.035
billion Presidential aid package.
Church said today the commit-
tee is "determined that we do
not repeat the pattern of Viet-
nam," where economic and mili-
Fuibright Panel'
Okays Funds
for Cambodia
By GEORGE SHERMAN
Star Staff Writer
The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee today agreed to au-
thorize President Nixon's pro-
posal for $255 million in aid to
Cambodia, but coupled the ac-
tion with severe restrictions.
Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho,
after a two-hour closed meeting,
said that the commmittee had
agreed to report out the full $535
million new foreign aid authori-
zation requested last month by
the President-including the $255
million for Cambodia.
But he said the committee had
unanimously adopted three dif-
ferent amendments:
An amendment similar to the,
p r e v i o u s "Cooper-Church"
amendment forbidding the intro-
duction of American combat
forces, advisers or instructors
into Cambodia.
An amendment by Sen. Jacob
Javits, R-N.Y., stating that the
added funds in no way signal a
American commitment ,to the
defense of Cambodia."
An amendment by Sens.
Stuart Symington, D-Mo., and
Clifford Case, R-N.J., that if the
President decides to switch any
more funds from existing aid
programs to Cambodia, he must
give Congress 30-day advance
notice.
Reflects Hostility
The last amendment reflects
hostility in the committee, led
by Chairman J. William Ful-
bright, D-Ark,, to the fact that
Nixon has given $108 million in
aid to Cambodia over the last
seven months without approval
of Congress. He did this by an
"emergency" switch of funds
from already approved air pro-
grams.
Follow Up Comments
But he did say that there had
been a "follow-up" from Secre-
tary of State William P. Rogers'
remarks to the committee last
week that he did not have a
"closed mind" against possible
restrictions.
The $255 million authorization
approved today for Cambodia in-
eludes $100 million to restore
funds already taken from other,
aid programs for use in Cambo-
dia , $85 million in new military
aid, and $70 million in economic
aid. In addition, the administra-'
tion proposes to send another $30
million from Food for Peace
funds.
By acting today, the commit-
tee forestalled attempts by ad-
ministration forces to bypass the
authorization stage for the new
aid. The House has already
passed the full appropriation re-
quested without provision that it
first be authorized by Congress.
That total package is $1.035 bil-
lion, including $535 million mili-
tary credits for Israel, which
had previously been authorized
in this session of Congress.
There were indications that
administration forces would try
See CAMBODIA, Page A-3
a similar maneuver, bypassing
the authorization stage in the
Senate, where a similar appro-
priations bill including the $1.035
billion supplemental foreign aid
request, is being debated today.
Church noted that the commit-
tee has now blocked this "end-
PAGE
tary aid was the first step to-
ward deep American military in-
volvement.
The administration has repeat-
edly denied any intention of
sending troops or advisers to
Cambodia. At his press confer-
ence on Thursday Nixon said he
could see no circumstances
whatsoever for sending Ameri-
can forces back into Cambodia.
Don't Prohibit Flights
Church today said that the
adopted amendments do not pro-
hibit the use of American air
power over Cambodia. Nor is
there any reference, he said,
against using the money to sup-
port forces of other neighboring
Asian nations-so called "mer-
cenaries"-in Cambodia.
Church said American air
power is already being used in
Cambodia, and including prohi-
bition of it in this aid package
would only complicate the argu-
ment on the floor of the Senate.
He also noted that South Viet-
namese forces are already fight-
ing in Cambodia, and the com-
mittee does not want to jeopar-
dize American aid to these,
'forces by an anti-mercenary
I amendment.
Church said the committee
has been under heavy pressures
to act. By reporting out the au
thorization today, even with the
restrictions, it effectively by-
passed Fulbright's plan to stall
the new Cambodian aid until the
next season of Congress.
Fulbright had argued that up
to $250 million in existing aid
could be channeled to Cambodia
in the same way the $108 million
already has been, without new
congressional authorization. But
on Friday, Secretary of Defense
Melvin R. Laird strongly disa-
greed, saying that "we have run
out of money."
The committee split on two'
votes on the package.
First, Sen. Symington's pro-
posal to delete all funds for
Cambodia from the package was
defeated 8 to 4. Fuibright voted
in favor of the deletion.
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December 8, 1970
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE
the other day, ought to be of Wilbur Mills.
For If the European Economic Community
grows in size and cohesion and economic
and political power over the next decade, Mr.
Mills and his trade bill will deserve some
of the credit.
That little irony is one way of measuring
the unwitting self-destructive effects that
are likely if the Mills bill or something like
it becomes law. The United States will be
doing the most effective single thing it could
possibly do to build up a rival economic
power in the world-and to make it more
antagonistic.
Now the sophisticated men and women
who inhabit the ugly new maze that is E.E.C.
headquarters here are much too smart to
think that Wilbur Mills is a primitive tyrant.
They knoow that he is a shrewd legislator
whose bill reflects genuine forces in the
United States.
They know that these are hard times in
America, that there is a climate of economic
fear. They know that protectionism is not
going to be dispelled by hope or even logic.
The Europeans have had enough experi-
ience with entrenched economic forces in
their own community to understand that
particular American regional or industrial
interests, with political weight, really feel
threatened by free trade. But they expect
more of national leadership, and they wonder
whether Washington appreciates the dangers
of protectionism.
Consider the question of enlarging the
Common Market to include Britain and the
other applicant countries. American Estab-
lishment opinion, long favoring that enlarge-
ment, has turned a little sour at the edges
lately because of the E.E.C.'s tough trade tac-
tics. But it still tends to favor Britain's entry,
on the ground that. she will hopefully make
the market less selfish, more outward-looking.
Passage of the Mills bill would propel the
E.E.C. enlargement negotiations toward a
successful conclusion. The specter of Amer-
lean protectionism would incline even the
doubters inside the market to want a larger,
stronger community.
The psychology of a community enlarged
under those impulses is likely to be defen-
sive. The momentum will be toward division
of the world into trade blocs.
The retaliatory mood in Brussels is already
evident. The reaction to the Mills bill is not
so much fearful as determined. And the talk
is not only of specific retaliation against
sensitive American products. You keep out
our shoes and textiles, we'll keep out your
vegetable oil.
There is the broader and more dangerous
possibility of the E.E.C. trying to undercut
whole markets for American products by
preferential trade agreements. Those agree-
ments, for mutual trade advantages, have so
far been made only with countries in the
Mediterranean area, where U.S. trade inter-
ests are not so large. Suppose the community
should now seek agreements in Latin Amer-
ica? Or suppose it should move toward re-
strictions on American investments in
Europe?
Some Americans may still be thinking,
"They can't do that to us." But they can.
The European community is now a signifi-
cant economic power, second only to the
United States. And it is growing-a gain of
7 per cent in gross product last year over
the year before, compared with less than 3
per cent in the U.S.
With the applicant countries in, the E.E.C.
would have a population of more than 250,
~'Yllllian.
We have learned, latterly, that the United
States cannot have its own way in the world
militarily or politically. There are other peo-
ple with power, and we have to deal with
them,
The same is true economically: We have
are going to be hurt ourselves. The textile
manufacturer in South Carolina may not
care about that; so long as he is protected,
he may think, it's just too bad about the
farmer down the road. But the understand-
ing and the responsibility ought to be great-
er in Washington.
Mr. JAVITS. Finally Mr. President, I
would like to return to Secretary Stans
December 1 speech in which he stated:
The fundamental point to realize about
this bill is the fact that on every major is-
sue it delegates responsibility to the Presi-
dent to act. This being so, the concern
should not be with the law itself, but with
the way it will be administered if it be-
comes law.
I would point out that the greatness of
this Nation is based on the fact that it
is a nation in which the rule of law is
supreme. If we pass bad laws with the
hope that the administration of them
will be benevolent we will have taken a
long step toward weakening the separa-
tion of powers and in turn our democ-
racy. I would also point out that the
Senate has had experience with delega-
tion of authority to the executive that
rightfully belongs in the Congress to the
President. I remember some rather bitter
struggles in this regard and again it was
in the foreign policy field. I hope my col-
leagues will not find me remiss or not
find my rhetoric inflammatory if I again
characterize this bill as the "Tonkin Gulf
Resolution" in the trade field.
OKLAHOMA'S 4-H CLUB DELEGA-
TION TO THE NATIONAL 4-H
CONGRESS
Mr. BELLMON. Mr. President, for
years, Oklahoma youths have made an
impressive showing in the National 4-H
Club Congress. This year Oklahoma's
delegation compiled a truly outstanding
record by winning a total of 21 national
awards, more than any other State, and
the most honors ever won in the 49-year
history of the congress.
Oklahoma's delegates to the meeting
in Chicago last week also won an un-
precedented $12,200 in scholarships, the
most money ever taken home by a single
State.
Topping the list of achievements were
three Presidential awards. This is the
highest honor which can be given a 4-H
Club member in the National, and Okla-
homa won half of the six awards. This is
the first time in the history of the con-
gress that half of the awards went to
members from one State.
In addition to these recordbreaking ac-
complishments, Clayton, Taylor, presi-
dent of Oklahoma's 60,000 4-H'ers, was
chosen as one of five members of the
team of 4-H reporters to the Nation
for 1971. The team will visit national
leaders, businessmen, and civic organi-
zations throughout the Nation to explain
'S19629
astic, ambitious group of youthful Okla-
homans. Another 4-H Club leader, Dr.
Pete Williams of Stillwater, Okla.,
said the amazing record was possible be-
cause of long hours and devotion by hun-
dreds of adult leaders across the State, as
well as the parents and others who take
the time to give these young people en-
couragement and help them.
As one whose family has been closely
involved with 4-H work for many years,
I have a great appreciation for the op-
portunities provided by this organiza-
tion for guiding young lives into useful
and enjoyable activities. And while I
share with all Oklahomans the feeling
of pride for the performance of our
young people at Chicago this year, there
is also an inspiration for all Americans
in their accomplishments.
These young men and women, who
come from communities of all sizes and
from different family backgrounds, will
join the ranks of tomorrow's leaders in
this Nation. The training and experience
they have gained from the 4-H program
and the sense of achievement through in-
dividual effort will equip them well for
the challenges they must face.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous con-
sent that the list of Oklahoma's 21 na-
tional 4-H winners be printed in the
RECORD.
There being no objection, the list was
ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as
follows:
LIST OF 4-H WINNERS
Clayton Taylor, Oktaha, top 4-H boy for
leadership and presidential award.
Latriece Baker, Cater, top 4-H girl for
citizenship and presidential award.
Larry Mark Shockey, Chickasha, top 4-H
boy for citizenship and presidential award.
Gwen Etta Shaw, Darlington, consumer
education and home economics.
John Lawler, Orlando, agriculture.
Tony Engelke, Amber, Automotive project.
Vicki Hutchens, Tishomingo, dress review.
Jimmie Williams, Smithville, electrical
project.
Cathy Bennett, Guthrie, sheep project.
Alane LeGrand, Stillwater, health.
Denise Welson, Carrier, food nutrition.
Jane Mayer, Hooker, women's achievement.
John Roush, Cherokee, men's achievement.
Randy DuBois, Grove, veterinary science.
Ted Weber, Carmen, swine training.
Yvonne Moore, Ninnekah, food preserva-
tion.
Janet Johnson, Mulhall, bicycle program.
Bill Stasyszen, Tecumseh, overall 4-H
achievement.
Lanny Bates, Ada, overall 4-H achieve-
ment.
Roellen Gentry, Shawnee, overall 4-H
achievement.
Lou Ann Schiltz, Ponca City, overall 4-H
achievement.
Payne County team of Jim Hiner, Barbara
Knorr, Cora Ann LeGrand, and Duane Wil-
liams, all of Stillwater, won first place in
poultry judging.
new trends and developments in the 4-H CAMBODIA
program. Mr. SYMINGTON. Mr. President, this
This year's 39-member delegation from morning in executive session the Foreign
Oklahoma surpassed a previous record Relations Committee heard an interest-
of 19 national winners set in 1964. Ray ing and informative report on Cambodia
Parker of Oklahoma. State University, a from two staffinen-Messrs. James G.
member of the State 4-H Club staff, said Lowenstein and Richard M. Moose. They
he had never witnessed a more enthusi- have just returned from a factfinding
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE Uece'noer 6, 15 iu
Imission to that country on behalf of the
committee.
The Lowenstein-Moose report Is by far
the clearest statement 'l have heard of
the story on Cambodia. It provides indis-
pensable background for decisions the
Senate is shortly going to have to make
with regard to U.S. aid programs in Cam-
bodia, and the deeper U.S. involvement
which would inevitably follow.
Unfortunately, the report is highly
classified. It could be declassified in ma-
jor part, and I think that should be done.
Every Senator should have the benefit of
the information it contains before he
votes on the supplemental aid authoriza-
tion for Cambodia.
The American people also are entitled
to know where we are going and why.
WHAT THE AGRICULTURAL CON-
SERVATION PROGRAM, MEANS TO
FARMERS
Mr. COOPER. Mr. President, for some
years I have observed _firsthand what
the agricultural conservation program
means to farmers and the great influence
It has had in restoring our national land-
scape. I have seen ravaged land become
a place of beauty. I have seen burned over
forests become green with pine and gul-
lied hillsides flourish with clover. These
Improvements as well as maintenance
of our basic natural resources of soil and
water, can in many cases be attributed to
the work of the ACP. I find it very re-
grettable that a program which has
served us so well, and one with such out-
standing prospects for _ future service,
may be eliminated.
For many years the ACP has encour-
aged farmers to plant green cover crops
to protect the soil and control., erosion, to
construct terraces and plant in contour
strips, construct dams, pits, and ponds,
.plant trees and- shrubs, construct sod
waterways, and install farmland drain-
age systems. While the main emphasis
behind these practices has been toward
more productive farming, we now find
that these same agricultural practices
have been effective in controlling agri-
?cutural pollution. As ranking Republi-
can member of the Committee on Public
Works, I am working with the problems
of water and air pollution and solid waste
disposal, over which my committee has
legislative jurisdiction. It is my belief
that the ACP is an ongoing program
which can be of great value in helping
to solve the problems of agricultural pol-
' lution.
On February 10, 1970, in a message
to the Congress on environmental prob-
lems, the President stated:
Water pollution has three ' principal
aources': municipal, industrial, and agricul-
tural wastes. All three must eventually be
controlled it we are to restore the purity of
our lalCes and'rivers. Of all these three, the
most troublesome to control are those from
agricultural sources: animal wastes, eroded
rsoil, fertilizer nad pesticides. Some of these
are nature's own pollutions.
With the ACP we have in. full opera-
tion a program which is dealing effec-
. tlvely with these problems which the
.President placed so high on his own list
of priorities. To abandon the ACP, at a
time when it Is successfully fighting one
of our most pressing national problems,
is unthinkable.
It seems obvious to me that if the ACP
is not continued, it will be necessary to
create a new program to combat agri-
cultural pollution and agricultural con-
servation. I later find it difficult to un-
derstand the rationale behind the dis-
continuance of an established, effective,
low cost program for a new and untried
program which could be plagued with
organizational and implementational
difficulties. Apparently, many of those
who would discontinue the ACP are not
fully aware of the services it now pro-
vides and the necessity for an expansion
of these services.
The Congress has recently voted to
limit commodity payments to $55,000 per
farm in response to growing concern
about large payments that go to a small
number of large farm operators. The
ACP does not suffer such criticism be-
cause payments are limited to a fraction
of that amount. The national average of
ACP payments is about $200 and has
broad participation nationwide. I know
of no program which better lends itself to
support of the small family farm with
such broadly distributed benefits.
I believe it is a real paradox that at a
time when there is so much concern
about ecology and the problems of our
environment, that an established pro-
gram which has helped not only farmers,
but has resulted in restoring natural
beauty and enhancing the environment,
should be abandoned or reduced. It is my
hope that the President will direct the
Bureau of the Budget to announce the
ACP for 1971 so that farmers may enter
their requests for participation.
Mr. President, I have written to the
President and Secretary of Agriculture
Hardin expressing my thinking on this
subject. I ask unanimous consent that
these letters as well as the reply I have
received from Secretary Hardin be in-
serted into the RECORD at this point.
. There being no objection, the letters
were ordered to be printed in the RECORD,
as follows:
THE PRESIDENT, .
The White House,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR MR, PRESIDENT: I hope very much that
funds will soon be released so that the 1971
Agricultural Conservation Program may be
announced, and farmers can make applica-
tion for ACP participation, as in previous
years.
I have seen the results of the ACP in Ken-
tucky-gullied slopes now in clover; farm
ponds; multi-flora rose fence rows, fields once
brown now green. I believe the ACP has done
a great deal to restore the natural beauty of
rural areas, and to maintain our basic na-
tional resources of soil and water. At a time
when there is much concern about ecology
and the environment, I believe it would be
a mistake to abandon or sharply reduce the
program.
Second, farm commodity programs have
been increasingly criticized because of large
payments to a small number of operations,
so that the Administration this year recom-
mended and the Congress adopted a $55,000
per farm limitation. But the ACP has for
many years been limited to a fraction of that
amount, and the average payment is around
$200 per farm. With the possible exception
of the county agent system, I know of no
farm program which better lends itself to
support for the family farm, or which in fact
has provided such broadly distributed bene-
fits.
While it is true that the Soil Conservation
Service provides essential technical assist-
ance to farmers, I doubt it would be so effec-
tive on many smaller and family farm oper-
ations without the incentive provided by the
ACP for them to undertake the long-run
conservation measures.
I do not say that the ACP should not be
redirected. Rather, the program lends itself
to different local needs and revised national
priorities. For example, agricultural pollution
abatement practices, to be carried out
through the ACP, have recently been devel-
oped and are being encouraged by the De-
partment of Agriculture.
To this point, I may say that my early
experience with, and strong support for, the
ACP came during the years I served as a mem-
ber of the Committee on Agriculture. Now, as
the ranking Republican member of the Com-
mittee on Public Works, I find myself work-
ing on the problems of water and air pollu-
tion and solid waste disposal, over which
that Committee has legislative jurisdiction.
I am sure that agricultural sources of pollu-
tion will require increasing attention next
year and in the years to come. With the ACP,
it seems to me we have a program which
can deal effectively with a number of these
problems.
I should think it much better to redirect
the ACP program, with increasing emphasis
on pollution control, than to try to bring
forward a new program to deal with farm
sources of pollution.
I say that because new programs take time,
organization, involve additional authoriza-
tions and expenditures, and in this case
might lack the effectiveness of the ACP,
which already has acceptance in the Con-
gress and in the country.
I know you are familiar with the Agri-
cultural Conservation Program as it has
worked for many years. However, because a
decision now about the future of the ACP
involves not only the continuation of soil
and water conservation practices on thou-
sands of farms, but also the development
and application of effective anti-pollution
measures in the years ahead, I thought you
would like to have and wanted to present my
views for your consideration at this time.
With kind regards, I am
Yours sincerely,
JOHN SHERMAN COOPER.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Washington, D.C., November 18, 1970.
Hon. JOHN SHERMAN COOPER,
U.S. Senate.
DEAR SENATOR COOPER: This is in further
reply to your letter of October 21, 1970, urg-
ing the release of funds for the Agricultural
Conservation Program (ACP). We should
also like to comment on your letter to the
President of October 26, a copy of which
you sent to us, expressing the hope that it
might be helpful.
No final decision has been made to an-
nounce a 1971 program. However, we are
continuing our discussions with the Office
of Management and Budget on this matter
and are hopeful that a decision on the pro-
gram can be reached soon.
There is, of course, a serious problem in
determining the items of sufficiently high
priority for inclusion in the budget at a time
of increasing demand for needed programs.
The budgetary pressure and the lower pri-
ority assigned to the ACP have led to the
difficulty in getting this program released.
As you point out, however, the ACP has
been recently redirected to make it a more
effective program and to better meet today's
environmental and conservation problems.
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y0 Pf "9?or Release 2003/03/251] RDt- 72-;OC 3 ROOO200250001-9t)AG:E;
NEW CURB SOUGHT
ON DEFENSE CURBS
Senate Group Votes Bar to
Use of G.L's in Cambodia
By JOHN W. FINNEY i
Special to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3-Thei
Senate Appropriations Com-
mittee today voted in favor of
barring the President from
using defense funds to intro-
duce American ground combat
troops into Cambodia.
The House Foreign Affairs
Committee, meanwhile, refused
to attach a similar restriction
on. legislation authorizing the
President to provide $255-
million in military assistance
to Cambodia.
The surprise move by the
Senate committee came as it
reported out for-Senate action
next week a $68.7-billion de-
fense appropriations bill that
was $2.3-billion less than re-
quested by the Administration
and $388-million less than ap-
proved by the House. To the
appropriations bill, the committee attached a legislative
fJ~ndc S rn4 11 1rF! 1 by his ct
shall he?~~ cM t~~ a finance n-
t~Anrtinn f ?4merira ornii d
r3YL1l.S iTytfi T ap$, Thai, lid
Camhodi
Curb Certain of Adoption
In view of the action of the
conservative-dominated Appro
priations Committee, the Cam-
bodian restriction is certain to
be adopted by the Senate. But
even with Senate approval,
there would remain a question
whether the restriction would
be accepted by House conferees
in a Senate-House conference
on the appropriations bill.
In a memorandum submitted
to the House committee, the
State Department opposed an
amendment submitted by Rep-
resentative Paul Findley, Re-
publican iz-f Illinois, which spec-
ified that C, e funds for Cam-
bodia "shall be used exclusive-
ly for purposes the President
determines to be essential to
the withdrawal of United
States military personnel from
South Vietnam and in no case
shall be used to establish or
maintain United States military
personnel in Camhodia."
The memorandum said, "It
is bad Lotion to seek by legisla-
tive action to restrict the
power of the Commander. in
Chief on matters which clearly
come under his constitutional
authority."
The memorandum added,
"The Administration does not
plan to send military advisers
or combat personnel to Cam-
bodia." It continued, "How-;
ever, any such operational
limitations ought to be self-
imposed by the executive. Con-
gress should not attempt to;
force them on the Presidents
through statute."
"Furthermore," the memo-
randum said, "adoption of such i
an amendment would no doubt;
have a seriously adverse psy
chological effect on the Gov-.1
ernment of Cambodia."
Curbs Written Into Bill
With Administration ap-;
proval, the restrictions against
use of ground combat troops in'
Thailand and Laos were written
into the Defense Bill last year;
and continued this year in the
new appropriations bill ap-
proved by the House. The prin-
cipal reason that Cambodia was
not included originally in the
list was because at the time
that country was neutral and
there was no overriding con-
cern in Congress that American
troops might be used there.
In now deciding to add Cam.
odia to the restrictions, Sena-
tor Allen J. Ellender, Democrat
of Louisiana, the acting com-
ittee chairman, made clear
that the purpose of the commit-
ee was to avoid another Sen-
te floor fight on the Cam-
odian issue.
In its thrust, the Cambodian
restriction corresponds to the
Cooper-Church Amendment
which the Senate attached to
the first foreign military-sales
bill. The bill has since become
deadlocked in a House-Senate
conference committe because of
the refusal of the Administra-
tion and the House Foreign
Affairs Committe to accept the
amendment cosponsored by
Senators John Sherman Cooper,
'Republican o Kentucky, and
Franch Church, Democrat of
Idaho.
- Following Administration
wishes, the House committee
rejected the Findley Amend-
ment by a 18-9 vote. By over-
whelming votes, the committee
also defeated amendments by
Representatives Donald M.
Fraser, Democrat of Minnesota,
and Jonathan B. Bingham, Dem-
ocrat of New York, that would
have reduced the aid amounts
for Cambodia or made clear
that the aid did not represent
an American commitment to
the Cambodian Government.
The Administration's attitude
on the Senate committee's re-
striction was not immediately
disclosed. But in the House, the
Administration was making
clear that is was opposed to
any comparable legislative re-;
strictions on the military aid
it has requested for Cambodia.
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THE WASHINGTON POST
fambodict
Aid Hit by
Hill Doves
By Murrey Marder
Washington post staff writer
Senate "doves" aired quick
misgivings about "another
Vietnam" yesterday over Pres.
ident Nixon's $255 million aid
request for Cambodia. Admin-
istration spokesmen labeled
the choice "dollars or blood."
That double reaction to the
most controversial portion of
the President's call for $1.035
billion in new foreign military'
and economic assistance.
around the world appeared to'
end the Senate's verbal cease-
fire on U.S. policy in South-
east Asia. President Nixon's
Oct. 7 call for a battlefield'
cease-fire in all Indochina had
produced a relative lull in the
domestic political controversy
in the 1970 election campaign.
War critics on the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee
served notice that they will
scrutinize very carefully the
President's multiplied request
for help to Cambodia, where)
the war has continued to
spread since U.S. troops with-'
drew last June.
-txro'ra =t. gnine to stall"'
C am , ,ir~,.an t Ifir ~Fnlhriight. (n.-
A 7r 1 hnt " h s s so simi-
i~..~fi$lfl. ~y
."o hpp ,n m_
yp ved in Vietnam.."
Said committee member
Frank Church (D-Idaho):
"What we're really trying to
do is to avoid another Viet.
nam in Cambodia."
committee, after meet.
i yest nouncecl it is
~ era
s- n g wowo staff inve~stiga 'ors
to Cambodia for in uiri's to
last a we lc 1_,10 ys
Senate Republican Leader
Hugh Scott (Pa.) told news
men yesterday that aid tt
Cambodia is vital to permi
continued U.S. troop with
drawals from South Vietnam
See AID, A16, Col. 1
AID, From Al
"The choice here is between
`dollars and blood," said Scott.
Church's counter to that
was, "Remember that dollars
led to blood in South Viet-
barn."
Assistant Senate Republican
Leader Robert P. Griffin (R
'lich.) said the President'
overall supplemental reques
or aid to Asian countries i
a- "small price" to pay to "en
courage the desirable maxi
Chum in self-help" by friend)
nations.
Scott pointedly underscored
tle administration's intention
to put pressure on the critics
of its Indochina policy by try-
ing to keep the funds for Cam-
bodia tied in an appropriate
package which includes $50
million in arms credits fo
rarael.
._ "If they want aid to Israel,"
said Scott, "they had better
support the whole bill." He
said: "A vote against this bill
,0111 be a vote against Israel."
Ful'bright countered that he
sees "no connection" between
the. two.
Scott added another factor
to the looming debate, charg-
ing, "The real situation is that
various people with presiden-
tial aspirations have no issue
in this session unless they can
DATE -2.0616V -?O PAGE 1
revive Cambodia-which they Ition's intent to use the politi-
may try to do." cal appeal of arms credits for
One potential aspirant, Sen. Israel to "pull along" the
Camdodian funds, Senate
George McGovern (D-S.D.), specialists point out that it
countered, "The question we might be necesary in the end
ought to raise is whether we to split off the already-
should give either blood or authorized Israeli credits any-
dollars to these dictatorial how, if the Cambodian request
governments in Southeast is blocked in this short, "lame
Asia." duck" session of Congress.
F u i b r i g h t and Senate Administration officials
Majority Leader Mike Mans- provided clarification yester-
field (Mont.) both promised a day of the sums involved in
fair hearing for the admipis- U.S. aid to Cambodia. Origi-
tration's justification. Secre- nally, after the overthrow of
tary of State William P. Cambodian Prince Norodom
Rogers and Defense Secretary Sihanouk Mar. 18, the United
Melvin R. Laird, who appeared States sent $8.9 million in
with their deputies before a American arms aid to Cam-
group of congressmen in a bodia, appropriated out of
closed meeting Wednesday to funds from the last fiscal
explain the request, are both year.
expected to testify later in Now, officials said, the ad-
open session before Ful- ministration is planning to
bright's commottee. No date send $285 million more in
'has been set. military and economic aid to
A Senate Appropriations Cambodia during the current
subcommittee headed by. fiscal year. Of this sum, $30
Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) will million is in surplus foods
conduct hearings on the ap- authorized under Public Law
propriations portion of the re- 480.
quest, Senate aides said, but The Cambodian funds now
it may not reach it before being requested include $155
"early December." The $500 million in new funds to be
million arms credit for Israel directly authorized to Cam-
already has gone through the bodia for military and eco-
authorization process, but not nomic aid, plus $100 million
the supplemental funds for "borrowed'.', from_ military au-
Cambodia and other nations. thorizations for other coun-
While it is the administra- tries. Out of that $100 mil-
Ilion, officials said, $40 million I
was allotted earlier to Cam- i
bodia; Congress was noti- 3
fied Wednesday that another;
$50 million is now going to'
Cambodia, and the remaining,
$10 million is to be released
for Cambodia in the months
ahead.
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DAVID LAWRENCE
~mbodi Thrust Had to Be Secret
When American troops mov-
ed into Cambodia, members of
the House of Representatives
introduced 17 bills trying to
tell the President of the United
States - already engaged in a
major war operation - exact-
ly how he should have pro-
ceeded.
They didn't 'know the confi-
dential information he pos-
sessed about the "sanctu-
Aries" of the enemy or the
real reasons for the movement
our troops suddenly launched
as a military necessity.
Now-strange . as it may
seem the House of Repre
sentatives, by a vote . of 288
to 39, has passed a resolution
declaring that the President
should c o n s u l t Congress
"whenever feasible" before
involving the forces of the
United States in armed con-
flict. Even when it isn't "feas-
ible," the House feels he
should "promptly" report to
Congress why he took such a
step.
The new resolution by itself
is believed harmless by its
critics and is expected to pass
the Senate. Rep. Clement J.
Zablocki, Democrat of Wiscon-
i sin, chief sponsor of the reso-
lution, says he is sure the ad-
ministration will not object to
it.
He declares, however, that.
the measure is important as
expressing "the sense of Con-
gress"- - that it, wishes to be
informed at all times about,
the "commitment" of U.S.
troops.
While the new resolution
does not mention the Cambodi-
an action of a few months ago,
it obviously is related to the
strategic move made to de-
stroy enemy bases and inflict
a severe blow on the power of
the North Vietnamese.
Vice President Nguyen Cao
Ky of South Vietnam, who is
visiting in this country, told
the students at the West Point
Military Academy the other
day that the Cambodian incur-
sion had forced the Viet Cong
to resort to low-level guerrilla
warfare. He said "they are
back to where they were ten
years ago."
Military experts say that the
destruction of the Communist
bases in Cambodia was one of
the most telling actions of the
whole Vietnam war and, in-
deed, may prove to have been
the turning point.
Yet, while it was going on,
some members of Congress
were condemning the adminis-
tration for allegedly violating
its pledge not to make any
more commitments abroad ex-
cept with the consent of Con-
gress.
The declaration of the Presi-
dent of the United States that
the mission was temporary
was viewed with skepticism,
and efforts were made in Con-
gress to pass resolutions seek-
ing to limit the presence of our
troops in Cambodia.
The expedition was complet-
ed successfully and American
forces. were withdrawn within
the time set by the adminiis-
tration.
The current resolution re-
minds the President that only
Congress has the power to de-
clare war, but notes that Con-
gress allows "the President in
c e r t a i n extraordinary and
emergency circumstances" to
defend the United States and
its citizens "without specific,
prior authorization by the Con-
gress."
The reason for this is that
the Constitution itself makes
the President commander-.
in-chief of the armed forces of
the nation.
He could not possibly oper-
ate them effectively if he had
to reveal in advance to 535
congressmen all the secrets
obtained about enemy "sanc-
tuaries," thus telling our ad-
versaries exactly when and
where they would be attacked.
The Cambodian incursion
achieved its object because it
was a surprise attack. Even
many officials inside the ad-
ministration weren't told prior
to the act.
The secret had to be kept to
prevent the North Vietnamese
from finding out about the
plan and preparing to defend
themselves in the areas where
they had assembled their sup-
plies.
When the history of the Viet-
nam war comes to be written,
the Cambodian expedition will
prove to have been one of the
most timely and decisive
events of the entire conflict.
For political reasons, the
critics of the President have
never ceased to talk about the
Cambodian affair as if it were
some misdeed on the part of
the President.
Actually, he was acting on
the counsel of military advis-
ers and saw an opportunity to
weaken the enemy and to
bring the war to an early
close.
Some day, when the war is
over, the full story of what
brought about the decision to
enter Cambodia may be dis-
closed to the public.
But it is too early even now
to discuss the sources of intel-
ligence or how the United
States found out about the bas-
es and planned the attack that
helped to weaken the strength
of North Vietnam in its effort
to take over South Vietnam.
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NEW YORK TIMES DATE - i~111r..
Foe in C~ ambod SetBack t
yIETNAMCASHES
By HENRY KAMM pong Thom, near the battered
Specta1 to The New Yank Times
PNOMPENH, Cambodia, Oct.
13 - Highly placed sources
here believe that the Viet-
namese Communist forces, hav-
ing failed in their initial ob-
jective of toppling the Govern-
ment of Premier Lon Nol
through widely diffused mili-
tary pressure on major popula-
tion centers, are regrouping
and are keeping Cambodia
guessing on where they will
move next.
Of the 40,000 enemy troops
in Cambodia mainly North
Vietnamese units with Vietcong
components and few Cam-
bodian guerrillas - the sources
estimated that only 5,000 were
engaged against the Cambodian
Army. The rest are reported to
he encamped in the northeast,
in provinces securely under
Communist control, from which
they are said to be in position
to strike eastward into South
Vietnam, northward into Laos
or westward into Cambodia.
The sources who in this
country of sketchy and often
contradictory military informa-
tion are considered closest to
reliable informants - believe
that the next three months, as
the dry season gradually takes
villd'.ge of lalLlb ~u+ .???
was recently recaptured by the
At that point the
Cambodians
.
Communists have reportedly ill 24 G.1.'s Wounded in War
G ent
halted aoner ,.~ .
18 to 20 battalions seeking tol 1 in Quangngai Province
secure the highway.
Nonetheless, the Government
offensive is not considered a
failure for two reasons:
The first is that it has
diverted the bulk of the Com-
munist forces from beleaguered
Kompong Thom and has made
it possible to relieve the city by
moving several battalions by
river from Pnompenh to Kom-
pong Thom.
The second is that the Gov-
ernment drive up Route 6 de-
flected a movement of enemy
troops southward either against
Pnompenh or against the South
Vietnamese units operating be-
tween the capital and the Viet-
namese border.
New Offensive Likely
The informants describe the
Cambodian Army's move to
relieve Kompong Thom and
clear Route 6 as indicative of
its capacity to mount at least
limited offensives. That con-
trasts sharply with the first
months of the war when the
small, underequipped and dis
organized Cambodian Army
seemed ready for a knockout
punch that the communists
never delivered.
Another such limited offen-
sive may be mounted along
Route 4, which connects Pnom-
penh with Cambodia's only
deep-water port of Kompong
Sorn, formerly Sihanoukville.
Enemy forces in the region of
Kampot and Takeo are re-
ported to be showing signs of
grave supply and logistics
problems.
1 In the present late stages of
the monsoon season, the enemy
forces, far from their supply
centers, are reported to be un
able to operate far from their
bases. But Cambodian intelli
gence indicates that the enem,
hold, will provide indications
of the enemy's intentions.
For the time being, they say,
enemy troop deployment, move-
ment of supplies and radio traf-
fice are of low intensity and
provide no significant clues.
The enemy is engaging in no
major offensive actiins but con-
tinues to bring steady pressure
on the towns of Siemreap and
Kompong Thom. Enemy troops
are harassing Kompong Chain,
Kompong Chhnang Kompong
Speu, and small units are op-
erating near Pnompenh, con-
ducting frequent ambushes onl
all roads.
The largest concentration of
North Vietnamese troops, per-
haps 2,000 is 60 miles north
of here along Route 6 to Kom-
THAILi ' 'KILL 10 AMERICANS
SAIGON, South Vietnamy
Oct. 13 (Reuters)-The United
tro days of fighting.
Th
d
id th
~ *, a
e comma
sa
ree
r~ ? 0j members of the Americal Di
C},~~9 vision died and seven were
Pnom ei guerrillas in Quangngai Prov-
South -Vietnam.V Enemy losses
El twere said to have been at least
Takes 38 dead.
r1pon9Som Seven other Americans were
day's report on war action.
inn
-killed V10.0-and d nine
Communist fort 1iV-e----;;re--
in areas of citie
wounded by boob
trans in the
y
concentration ofirorthern sector.
Communists area The Quangngai actions today
is preparingrbase can4helicopter attack on 100
regions.
he base area}country a few minutes after
The
and sar a troops of the Americal Division
dug, are i had clashed with guerrillas.
being Rovieng in Pl ere crewmen killed the 27 of helicop-
of te
province north Vietcong.
Thom and in the rt About an hour afterward
tion area of Prek land 18 miles to the north. a.
. Varni:killed and 16 wounded yester-
Saigon Tradi
The First Sin
Is Selling `Sty
Speolal to The New To
SAIGON, South
Oct. 13-The gates s
at 10 A.M. and
of perspiring, wi
fathers, colorfully dre
ers and bare-legged I
girls shuffle small ch
position to begin th
exhibits of the fir
trade fair since 1961.
Despite the contin
fare, Saigon business
to show investors t
Vietnam has entered
bility of the postwa
To get the message
they have chosen a
trade fair, which oper
The fair has been
primarily through p
terests. The Govern:
contributed land,
and plenty of publici
"We want to set i
phere of confidence
who may want to
Vietnam,' Nguyen Di
an economic researt
one of the fair's prim
explained in English. '
peasants to come and
fair. If they want to
machinery, we will I
ceded."
Japanese Dombi
Japanese products
her all other foreig
Toyota Shiktani I
Mitshubishi and Da
some of the Japanese
vies represented. C
with the fair, an 11-n
nese economic delea?
arriveA "-
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Jose h Alcor' 'JASHHS iG OL POST
i d 4'r Rise 200303/25 : J -f E - ?3.37R000200250001-9
ove
'turn, had long before bodia have finally been ana - scribed; this is a cautionary
tnnrharl ?re ,.:.,._-- r.,-A ".L tale.
ernment, it is worth report- ence.still had its effect.'The The chief American in IV
ing how new-figures have lower estimate was in truth, corps, Col' John Paul Vann,
now proved the extreme has no record of excessive
shrewdness of President Nix- the basis for the nonsensical optimism: Yet he now be-
on's decision to invade Han reports from Saigon, that lieves-. that his corps area
oi's Cambodian sanctuaries. Hanoi was rapidly organiz-. will be able to get on with-
The decision was based, to Ing a "Substitute" for Sihan-. out 'one of its three South
begin with; on two related orikville, by expanding- the this divisions before
considerations: First, the sane- supply lines running able to. spare another will divi
tuaries value to Hanoi oves s; the and sec- through Laos. These were sion early next year. Mean-
ond, the even greater value much quoted, to prove that while, the enemy's strongest
to Hanoi of the Cambodian the Cambodian adventure and most ancient redoubts ' in the supply system, which was 'would hothave decisive ef- betg'seidelta
zed and heldcurrently
continuously replenished by feels . .
Communist ships unloading Altogether, when you re;"
at the port of Sihanoukville. .: ` BY NOW, HOWEVER, the fleet on the past impact
The question of the Cam- enormous masses of enem upon policy of the bureau-
my.'
am cratic comedy above-de-
bodian supply system, in documents taken In Ca-
y
in the ways of modern order was
n gov given the differ-
ildve
which the U.S. government been nieticulouslyrl, tra
ced.
seems to specialize. In brief, And the result has been
the civilian side of the gov- to prove that the- Cambo-
ernment did not wish to be. dian supply system was ac
lieve that such a system tually providing. the. enemy'
even existed; hence it long with more than 21,000 tons
refused to do so, despite the per annum,
solid evidence produced by Here you see the effect,
the military in Vietnam. on even the most sober
Finally, about ' two and a judgments, of wanting to be-
half years ago, the evidence lieve what you want to hear.
became too strong to over- But here you also see why
look. But naturally, since the . -Cambodian adventure
:the! mere fact of the Cambo- . has, in fact, been even more
?dian supply system had -decisive than its few defend-
,been so long denied, the ers dared to hope at the out-
Olrext step was to downgrade set. _
its importance by every With .more than 21,000
,'leans possible. tons of 'arms a year coming,
EVEN LAST YEAR, there- in through Cambodia, the
fore,, our government had enemy had far more than
two competing estimates, enough to supply all his
both official; of the tonnages units in III and IV corps. the of_ arms the North Vietnam- But with supply flow -as ,ese , and the Vietcong were a stopped w It t was instantly
getting _ through Sihanouk ries when nvthe
a sanctu-
the
Ville. The civilian estimate unititss in were III and IV and IV dcowas a maximum of 8,000 tons units corps
a" year.. The military esti- were left without any supply
mate, made by the U.S. head- at all.
'quarters in Saigon, was 15,- The result has been what
000aons ayear, anyone but a certain sort of
cr-The difference was impor- U.S. senator would naturally
itant. The lower - estimate . provinces In of the IV rich delta
gave the Cambodian supply.. provinces corps, .for
.- instance, three South Viet;'
System` relatively marginal namese divisions of fine
importance, w h e r e'a s the
higher .estimate meant' that quality had. had their work
:almost enough arms were cut out for them before the
,being brought in through Si Cambodian invasion.
?hanoukville to nourish the THEY WERE MAKING'
'entire war effort of the progress, but it was fairly
.enemy in the lower half of slow progress, in part be-'
-South Vietnam. In conse- - cause. -Hanoi had sent, five.
'ttuence,. - the difference North Vietnamese regiments'
:caused a sanguinary bureau- - into the delta to br
.easy r ~6 IFWRbsetOt3/613/251d 1~ 2-00337R000200250001-9
twec~n' as mg on and Sai- only remnants of two NVA
THE CAME
~IAN episode gon for month after disputa regiments eon i ui t,; I-?
has soreceded that it i~ .:. -
er. But simply as a stud
Even after the invasion Pulsion can be confidently
expected. '
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NEW YORK TIMES DATE_(?
High Thai Aides Now Rule Out
Any .Manpower for Cambodia
BANGKOK, Thailand, Sept.
10-Two leading Thai officials
have declared that their Gov-
ernment will not send troops
to Cambodia. This decision also
covers the 3,000 ethnic Cam
bodians who have been in com
bat training since July 2, they
said:
Deputy Premier Praphasi
Charusathien and Foreign Min-
ister Thanat Khoman said in
interviews yesterday that Thai-
land was now giving priority
to settling the Indochina con-
flict in conformance with re-
solution of the recent Jakarta
conference that called for the
withdrawal of all foreign troops
from Cambodia.
The two officials said the
Thai Government believed the
introduction of even volunteer
forces would only prompt the
communist countries to take
reciprocal actions. Originally, a
ethnic Cambodian volunteer
contingent of 2,000 men was
scheduled to leave for active
duty in Cambodia by the middle
of this month.
Their area of assigned duty
was to have been along the
Thai border. It was also re-
ported that the Lon Nol. gov-
ernment, which had previously
requested Thailand to send two
divisions of combat troops,
now agreed that it would be
better for Cambodia to fight
on her own.
Foreign minister Thanat did
state, however, that "Thailand
is giving everything we can
spare to the Cambodians, short
of manpower." This aid also
includes air support whenever
requested by Pnompenh.
Nonetheless, should the situ-
ation deteriorate to the extent
that the sovereignty of Thai-
land is directly threatened,
then "we won't wait but will
take measures to safeguard our
own security," Mr. Thanat said.
In a separate statement he
said he believed it would be
best if in the future the United
States refrained from sending
its armed forces into any more
Vietnams or Cambodias. He
did not eleborate.
'AG w4.
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