NIXON’S REQUEST

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 17

NIXON’S REQUEST

Fulbright “troubled” (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) WASHINGTON, Nov. 20. Senator William Fulbright (Democrat, Arkansas) said yesterday that he was troubled by the Nixon Administration’s request for slssm in new military and economic aid for Cambodia, and said that it would require long consideration. He also announced that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would soon send two staff members to Cambodia to inquire into the conduct of the war. Senator Fulbright, a leading Congressional opponent of United States involvement in Asia, said that he could give no assurance that his committee will make a decision on the Administration’s request for Cambodian aid before the present session of Congress ends next month. He said the committee first wanted to hear testimony from the Secretary of Defence (Mr Melvin Laird) and the Secretary of State (Mr William Rogers), and also would have to consider the report of the staff investigators. While Senator Fulbright’s comments confirmed speculation that the Cambodian-aid request is certain to run into difficulty in Congress, he disputed the Administration contention that the request must be voted on together with the request for ssoom in aid to Israel, which would be more popular politically.