HOUSE COMMITTEE TO PROBE COVERT AID IN NICARAGUA FIGHT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000100620045-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: April 14, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000100620045-5
ARTiCLE A,Yr'i r.i
CN PAG
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
14 April 1983
House Committee
To Probe Covert Aid
In Nicaragua Fight.
By o WALL STREET Jovfwwi. Staff Reyorter
WASHINGTON-The Reagan administra-
tion's policy =fn Central America ran into
more serious trouble. last night- when ? the
.House IntelligencecCommittee.:announced it
would begin looking into covert activities in
Nicaragua.-
The. committee's'chaicinan: Rep. Edward-
Boland (D:; Mass:) emerged last night from
a lengthy-closed ,session -to announce the
panel will call Secretary .of - State George
Shultz and, National. Security Adviser Wil-
' -
liam Clark, to- testify- next, week.-.,
The panel met to begin discussing
whether the administration- is 'violating- a
congressional ban- on covert aid to military
groups for the purpose of overthrowing the
Nicaraguan government.' Armed bands
claiming they have.-received U.S. help have
infiltrated Nicaragua in recent weeks- and
have been waging sporadic battles with
troops from the leftist, government .-
Rep. Boland sponsored an amendment
that Congress passed late last year banning
aid that would be'used to topple Nicaragua's
leftist government. But there is growing
concern in Congress 'that the administration.
is circumventing the law.
Rep. Boland issued a statement last night
saying the committee didn't attempt to de-
cide whether the law is being followed. But
'he said its discussion showed "deep con-
cerns" about ? administration activities.-
Staff Staff members said the committee called
Mr. Shultz and Mr- Clark rather than Cen-
tral Intelligence Agency officials to show its
concern about the overall administration
policy in Nicaragua.. Committee members-
i "feel very strongly it's wrong to pick on the
CIA," one-aide- said. "The question is what
the policy is.,, ti;-
The House panel's meeting-was the sec-
ond closed session on Nicaragua in as many'
days. On Tuesday, the Senate Intelligence-
Committee questioned the CIA director, Wil-
liam Casey. -
After that session: chairman Barry Gold-
water (R., Ariz.) asserted that the testimony
showed the administration wasn't violating
the law; But other panel members aren't'
convinced.,' ` p
.On Tuesday, a House subcommittee on
internmerican affairs voted to prohibit any
.covert, support: for guerrillas in Nicaragua
unless authorized by-a. joint resolution in
Privately, administration officials ac-
knowledged that the_ U.S. -bas aided groups
opposed to Nicaragua's government-.. But ad- 1
ministration officials insist the support is
tended only, to enable the. groups to help stop
shipments of arms from Nicaragua to left
ists in El Salvador.
'Recent news reports from Nicaragu ,
however; indicate that'-armed 'groups that
have infiltrated the country intend to try to
overthrow, the government-,there.,-:-.;-
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/23: CIA-RDP90-00552R000100620045-5