CAMBODIAN AID Request cut in half

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 17

CAMBODIAN AID Request cut in half

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, March 12. A Senate sub-committee has approved SUSI2S million in emergency aid for Cambodia, spurring White House hopes that it can salvage a reprieve for the Lon Nol Government.

The Foreign Relations subcommittee, normally an opponent of American involvement in Indo-China, yesterday’ chopped President Ford’s House request by nearly half.

But observers said that it could be a significant interim victory in what has become a long, uphill battle on behalf of the faltering Lon Nol Government. The White House said that Mr Ford who had asked for aid worth SUS 222 million, was pleased by the Senate panel action and hoped the full committee would act promptly. The Administration apparently won a compromise by convincing members that helping the Phnom Penh Government to survive a little longer would allow a more orderly change of power and reduce bloodshed. But there is persistent uneasiness in Congress over whether any military aid can help President Lon Nol at this late stage. A Texas Republican Senator, Mr John Tower, said after meeting the Defence

Secretary (Mr James Schlesinger) that it seemed to be all over for President Lon Nol.

Mr Schlesinger however, later told reporters he hoped nothing he said to the senator gave rise to that impression, adding that if the Lon Nol forces could hold out until the monsoon season starts in May, the insurgents might be ready to negotiate. Amid uncertainty and outright opposition, the White House faces a tough fight in Congress when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. its parent chamber, and the House of Representatives deal with the aid request.

But a decision by the closely-divided House Appropriations Committee to delay its action on the request until Thursday, has bolstered White House hopes of squeezing a narrow victory.