Senate backs sanctions bill

Press, 12 July 1985, Page 6

Senate backs sanctions bill

NZPA-Reuter Washington The Republican-controlled Senate gave strong endorsement yesterday to a bill for sanctions against South Africa, but a band of hardcore conservatives fought to stall final approval of the measure.

By an overwhelming 88-8 margin the Senate voted to close off a mini-filibuster against the bill led by a Republican, Senator Jesse Helms. The size of that first test vote showed support for the measure among both Opposition Democrats and members of President Ronald Reagan’s Republican Party, although he opposes it.

After the vote to curb debate by limiting speeches to one hour a senator in the 100-seat chamber, seven other conservatives delayed action on the bill by declaring that they would use their hours. The bill would bar United States bank loans to Pretoria and exports of nuclear

technology and computers. More economic curbs could be applied if the Government failed to make substantial progress to end apartheid within 18 months. The House of Representatives has approved legislation that would apply curbs immediately, including barring economic expansion in South Africa by American firms and imports of the South African krugerrand gold coin. Although the Senate voted to start closing off the delaying tactics of the bill’s opponents — filibuster — Mr Helms and a fellow Republican, Steven Symms, threatened to try to stall the bill’s final approval as long as possible by proposing dozens of amendments.

The Reagan Administration has argued that economic sanctions would hurt; black workers in South: Africa and that its policy of I quiet diplomacy was making progress with the Pretoria Government.