Reagan sedation cited after arms testimony

Press, 22 December 1986, Page 1

Reagan sedation cited after arms testimony

By

CAROL GIACOMO

NZPA-Reuter Washington The American AttorneyGeneral, Mr Edwin Meese, had suggested President Reagan might have been under sedation after cancer surgery when he approved the first shipment of arms to Iran, said a Congressman, Mr George Brown. ' ■ After hearing Mr Meese testify before the House Intelligence Committee, the California Democrat said that Mr Meese; appeared to support comments by the former White House aide, Robert McFarlane, that Mr Reagan verbally approved a first shipment of United States arms which went to Iran from Israel in September, 1985.

The White House Chief of Staff, Mr Donald Regan, has testified that President Reagan approved the shipment only after it had taken place. Congressional investigators have been trying to reconcile the two versions.

Mr Brown said after Mr Meese testified: “The explanation is that Reagan was either in the hospital or recovering ... and he may have been under sedation.” Pressed on whether Mr Meese had said Mr Reagan might have been sedated when he approved the deal, Mr Brown replied: “Well, he gave the impression it was a difficult time for the President and he (Mr

Reagan) may not have recalled it (the decision).”

Mr Brown said that according to Mr Meese, Mr McFarlane met Mr Reagan in the White House living quarters in August, 1985. He did not elaborate on when Mr McFarlane might have met Mr Reagan in hospital.

Mr Reagan, aged 75, had abdominal surgery on July 13 to remove a cancerous growth from his colon. He left the Bethesda Naval Hospital on July 20.

Asked if Mr Meese had corroborated Mr McFarlane’s version, Mr Brown said: “He is allowing that it is conceivable.”

The timing is important because Mr Reagan could

be faulted for not informing Congress about the secret operation. It was not until January this year that he signed a special order approving such sales and ordering aides not to tell Congress for the time being. The Chief of Staff, Mr Regan, told reporters after testifying on Capitol Hill: “To the best of my recollection, the President was against the shipment at that time (1985). "When we finally found out about it, we decided not to comment on it for fear it would endanger the hostages. To the best of my knowledge he did not approve it. I would put it this way, we put up with it, it had happened, it was water over the dam.”