Efforts To Avoid Rebuke To Nixon

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32303, 22 May 1970, Page 13

Efforts To Avoid Rebuke To Nixon

(N.Z.P.A.-Reiiter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, May 21.

President Nixon’s Republican supporters today rallied forces to maintain a counter-attack on measures which would stop funds for further United States military action in Cambodia.

Informed sources said that the White House was involved in backstage efforts to find an acceptable form of words that would avoid any implication of a rebuke to the President for launching attacks against the Communist border sanctuaries on April 30.

'As Senate - delaying tactics by the “hawks” continued, a gap still appeared wide.

Some senators do not want to restrict the President’s powers in any way, while others want to prevent further involvement in Cambodia, without specific Congressional approval, after the President’s June 30 deadline for ending the present operations.

A widely backed bi-partisan measure by Senator John Sherman Cooper (Republican, Kentucky) and Senator Frank Church (Democrat, Idaho), would cut off funds for retaining United States forces in Cambodia. It would block major American military aid to the Cambodian Government by preventing United States financing of advisers, instructors, mercenaries and air support, whether American or of other nationality. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, one of several Republican senators who occupied the floor yesterday in an attempt to spin out the debate, said that he opposed the Cooper-Church move, and other proposals to cut off funds for American military action in Indo-China.

“I intend to vote against these resolutions because I feel that a vote in favour of

them would be a vote for American isolation, a vote to make this country a selfish, ingrown, third-rate Power and a vote for dishonouring an American commitment,” he said.

Opposition also came from Senator Robert Griffin, of Michigan, the assistant Senate Republican Leader, who told reporters: “We may not want to have a massive aid programme for Cambodia, but I don’t want to preclude assistance to Cambodia. I don’t want to close doors unnecessarily.” Senator Griffin tried to play down suggestions of a split between him and the Senate Republican Leader, Senator Hugh Scott, who told the Senate yesterday: “We do not wish to go to the aid of the Government of Cambodia.” Senator Griffin said that he was not aware of any differences with Senator Scott.

Efforts to find a compromise centred on the preamble of the Cooper-Church measure, which said that the amendment was intended to “avoid the involvement of the United States in a wider war in Indo-China.” Administration supporters feel this implies repudiation of President Nixon, who has said he was not trying to widen the war but shorten it.

Senators Cooper and Church said they were willing to change the language, but were standing firm on the pro-

visions to bar future United States involvement in Cambodia through advisers and other aid.

Members of the Senate thus appeared to be split three ways: those who do not want any restrictions at all, those who want restrictions, and those who are willing to work out at least some compromise to avoid a head-on clash with the White House.