WAR CRITICS WIN VOTE

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 11

WAR CRITICS WIN VOTE

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, June 12.

President Nixon’s Senate supporters, defeated over future American

military operations in Cambodia, today turned their attention to keeping the door open for United States financing of Thai and other Asian forces there.

Some Senate sources close to the White House regard the financing of third-party nations in Cambodia as even more important than the dispute over restricting American involvement. President Nixon’s Adminis-

tration has repeatedly affirmed it plans to pull American forces out of Cambodia by the end of June, but Thailand has said it plans to | send troops there. They would help to shore

up the Phnom Penh Government which is under heavy military pressure from the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces. By a vote of 54-47 the Senate yesterday rejected an amendment by Senator Robert Byrd (Democrat, West Virginia), which would have allowed the President to send troops back into Cambodia without Congressional approval if he felt it necessary to protect United States forces in neighbouring South Vietnam.

The amendment, had it been carried, would have negated a pending proposal by

Senators John Cooper (Republican, Kentucky) and Frank Church (Democrat, Idaho) to cut off funds for retaining United States forces in Cambodia after July 1, the President’s deadline for withdrawal.

Their proposal would also ban the United States financing of combat units, advisers, instructors or air support in aid of the Phnom Penh Government. This would block the United States subsidy of Thai troops in Cambodia along the lines of the Ssom a year paid for the Thai division in Vietnam.

Senator Robert Griffin, of Michigan, Assistant Republican Leader, who is concerned about tying the President’s hands, has offered another amendment which, in effect, would nullify the CooperChurch prohibitions against financing other nations’ military support of the Cambodian Government. There were indications that

discussions would be held later today to work out a compromise.