Less Support For War-Fund Cut Among Representatives

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32346, 11 July 1970, Page 13

Less Support For War-Fund Cut Among Representatives

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

WASHINGTON, July 10.

A dozen members of Congress, split nearly down the middle, now hold the key to the fate of the Cooper-Church amendment to restrict United States actions in Cambodia, the Associated Press reported.

The House left the controversial measure to the fate of a SenateHouse Conference Committee when it refused yesterday to order delegates to support the amendment to the Foreign Military Sales Bill. The Senate passed the amendment, named for Senator John Sherman Cooper (Republican, Kentucky) and Senator Frank Church (Democrat, Idaho), two weeks ago after almost two months of debate.

House supporters of the Cooper-Church amendment reached a highwater mark in votes for anti-war proposals in their chamber, but nevertheless lost in a key 237-153 vote during a session marked by Parliamentary confusion and Democratic charges that the White House brought pressure to bear on doubtful members.

Indications point to a tough fight in conference, all five

House members against curbing Presidential power in Cambodia, but the Senate representatives overwhelmingly for the amendment.

The Senate members line up six to one in favour of the Cooper - Church amendment and most also have little use

for the Military Sales Bill. The House passed the sales bill last March with no extended mention of a Cooper-Church-like amendment.

“My impression is that the Senate is going to bang tough,” said a Representative, Mr Donald Fraser (Democrat, Minnesota), who described the scene yesterday as “a typical ramrod operation of the House.” A Pennsylvania Democrat, Mr Thomas Morgan, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who will lead the House contingent, suggested to reporters that a long conference was on the horizon. “I would say 30 days ought to do it,” he said. Conference rules specify a majority of the conferees from both branches must agree on action taken. They can modify, accept or eliminate the Cooper-Church amendment and other points of difference in the bill but whatever action is taken then is subject to final approval by both the full House and Senate.

As drafted by the Senate, the Cooper-Church amend-

ment provides ho funds can be used for United States troops and advisers or for mercenaries from other nations in Cambodia.