New twist in storm over Marines

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 6

New twist in storm over Marines

NZPA-Reuter Washington A constitutional dispute over the 1200 United States Marines stationed in Beirut took a new twist yesterday when a congressional committee voted to cut off funds for the force. The 20-16 vote in the House of Representatives appropriations committee came as Congress was pushing through a compromise resolution which would allow President Ronald Reagan to keep the Marines in the four-nation peacekeeping force in Lebanon for up to 18 months. Under the compromise, Congress, not Mr Reagan,

would invoke the 1973 War Powers Act which requires a President to seek the authorisation of Congress in order to maintain troops in hostile situations overseas for longer than 60 to 90

days. But the appropriations committee resolution insisted that Mr Reagan must invoke the act and demonstrate formally who has the power to send the Armed Forces into combat abroad.

An aide of the sponsor, Clarence Long (Democrat) of Maryland, said: “The President has gotten us into a wartime situation when only Congress has the auth-

ority to do that.” Mr Reagan, in a meeting with broadcasters earlier, denied that the compromise resolution, now before Congress, amounted to a presidential blank cheque. “I think those people who have advocated such things as invoking the 60-day clause are very shortsighted,” he said. “If you did that, aren’t you simply saying to the people who are causing trouble: ‘Now step up the trouble for 60 days and your problems will be over, the multi-national force will go home’.”

Mr Reagan, echoing the

Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, when he testified before congressional committees, blamed Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organisation for the fighting in Lebanon.

Mr Shultz said that Syria’s leaders had blocked efforts to bring a cease-fire, adding: “The question arises whether Syria’s aim is to assure its security or its domination of Lebanon.” Mr Shultz admitted that the 18-month time limit in the compromise was selected to give the Administration the freedom to conduct foreign policy in Lebanon without constant

interference by Congress. He also said that, by accepting the compromise, the Administration was not saying it would definitely bring the Marines home after 18 months. “The President has no intention of turning over to Congress his responsibility as Commander-in-Chief,” he said.

The House of Representatives’ foreign affairs committee was due to act on the resolution, and the Senate foreign relations committee will take a vote. If approved, the issue would go to the full Houses next week.