REAGAN WARNED OF ANTI-SANDINISTA AID

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000302520005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 1, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000302520005-6
UNITED PRESS INTERNATION
Reagan warned of anti -Sandinista a
1 id~TL 1983
~~; S-"=-; W. LA MM
WASHINGTON
Iowa congressmen Jim Leach and Tom Harkin are among have sent a letter warning President Reagan that any secret oCIA maideto who
anti-Sandinista guerillas operating in Nicaragua would violate U.S. law.
in the letter released Friday, the congressmen, urged Reagan to ''act in
strict compliance with our domestic legal obligations'' and the charters of the
United Nations and the Organization of American. States.
They said aid to anti-Sandanista guerillas might trigger a war between
Nicaragua and neighboring Honduras.
Harkin was one of 36 Democrats to sign the letter while Leach was the only
Republican.
A spokesman for Rep. George (filler, D-Calif., said there had been no response
front the White House to the letter, dated March 24.
In the letter, the members cited news reports indicating the CIA had
engaged in covert operations against Nicaragua, including support of
anti-Sandinista forces based in Honduras.
''We believe that U.S.-supported anti-Nicaraguan forces may be involved in
the current hostilities, " the lawmkers said. ,If this is the,
believe
this support is a violation of the Boland amendment to the De re,wof Defense
appre*riaLions f`Ji11 t partmmen, o adopted m ast December.
The letter said the amendment, which was sponsored by Chairman Edward Boland,
D-Mass., of the House Intelligence Committee, prohibits the
Department from aiding any group seeking to overthrow the Nicaraguan governmen5e
or to Crovoke ''a military exchange'' between Honduras and Nicaragua.
':We believe that the current attacks inside Nicaragua are creatinc a climate
in which open hostilities between Nicaragua and Honduras are a distinct
pcss_cility, " the congressmen said.
The climate of tensions and escalating military activity inside Nicaragua
raises, we believe, the threat of direct conflict between Nicaragua and
Honduras, ' ' the members said.
B0lnnd, who was in China with Thomas O'Neill, D-Mass, waa scnotramongnthedeignersOn headed by House
In addition to Miller and Harkin, the 34 Democrats who signed the letter
included Reps. William Clay of Missouri; George Crockett Jr., Sander Levi,, and
Dale kildee of Michigan; and Edward Feighan, John Seiberling and Dennis Eckart
of Ohio.
Also Bruce Morrison of Connecticut; Parren Mitchell of Maryland; Martin Sabo,
James Oberstar and truce Vento of Minnesota; Jim Slattery of Kansas; William
Gray of Pennsylvania; Sam Gejdenson and William Ratchford of Connecticut; Tom
Downey, Richard Ottinger, Charles Schumer, Robert Mrazek and Ted Weiss of New
York:
AisG, Barney Frank, Jim Shannon, Gerry Studds and Ed Markey of Massachusetts;
Pete Stark, Julian Dixon, Anthony Beilenson, Leon Panetta and Ronald Dellums of
California; Pat Williams of Montana; Barbara Mikulski and Michael Barnes of
Maryland; and Norman Dicks of Washington.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000302520005-6