Washington urges ‘old friend and ally’ to resign

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 10

Washington urges ‘old friend and ally’ to resign

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The'White House urged Mr Marcos to resign yesterday but said it had received no response to its call for a peaceful transition to a new Government.

A Presidential spokesman, Larry Speakes, said the Reagan Administration was ready to help ensure stability in the Philippines and to help Mr Marcos, whom he called “an old friend and ally,” in that regard.

United States officials were still in touch with Mr Marcos, he said. In a pre-dawn statement authorised by the President, Mr Ronald Reagan, the White House said attempts by Mr Marcos to prolong his regime through violence would be

futile. Mr Speakes said the United States “would continue our diplomatic contacts and our efforts to indicate to him that a peaceful transition is the only solution to the problem.”

Mr Reagan had no plans to talk to Mr Marcos.

The Administration hoped for a peaceful resolution that would “ensure stability as quickly as possible,” he said. Mr Marcos had not asked for asylum and the Administration had made no offer of safe haven in its Subic Bay and Clark military bases in the Philippines.

The United States had “adequate capacity” at Clark Air Base if Mr Marcos should make such a

request, he said. The United States, the Philippines’ biggest ally, appeared yesterday to have pulled the rug from under Mr Marcos after supporting him throughout his 20 years in power.

“A solution to this crisis can only be achieved through a peaceful transition to a new government,” the White House statement said.

Mr Reagan had monitored the situation through the night and conferred with senior foreign policy advisers early yesterday morning, Mr Speakes said. The strong signal to Mr Marcos had been sent after "our determination that there was the possibility of additional violence,” Mr Speakes said. “We thought it was im-

portant that we issue a strong statement and make it clear that we think an orderly transition is essential.” Asked if Mr Marcos had asked for asylum in the United States, Mr Speakes replied, “We have received no request... we are prepared to be of assistance to an old friend and an ally.” Two Republican senators, Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and David Durenberger, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised Mr Reagan’s actions. Both said Mr Reagan had reduced the prospects for violence in the Philippines by calling for Mr Marcos to resign and offering him asylum.