Congress votes to halt contra aid

Press, 13 March 1987, Page 6

Congress votes to halt contra aid

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The United States House of Representatives voted yesterday to block SUS4O million ($71.2 million) in aid to Nicaraguan rebels for up to six months, although leaders conceded that it is only a temporary victory and that the rebels will get the aid.

The House voted 230 to 196 to delay the money for six months, and to direct President Ronald Reagan in the meantime to provide a full account of how much aid the rebels received from Iran arms profits and other sources.

But even if the Senate agreed to the delay, Mr

Reagan was sure to veto it, House leaders conceded.

Opponents could not get the two-thirds vote needed in both the House and Senate to override a veto because even many opponents of the SUS4O million consider it a commitment already made. The SUS4O million is the last instalment of SUSIOO million ($l7B million) in rebel aid that Congress approved last year.

But Democratic leaders, including the House Speaker, Jim Wright, said the vote sent a message to Mr Reagan that Congress would not likely approve his request for an addi-

tional SUSI 05 million ($lB7 million) for the rebels next year.

“The Administration must face reality and focus on other ways to find peace,” Mr Wright said.

The legislation passed by the House yesterday requests an accounting for the millions of dollars the Administration has admitted were diverted to the contras from secret arms sales to Iran. The bill also asks for an accounting of SUS 27 million appropriated in 1985 as humanitarian aid, and of all funds provided to the contras by foreign Governments or private

individuals at the urging of the Reagan Administration.

“The American people have the right to know where this money has gone,” said David Bonior, a Michigan Democrat Contra supporters in the House, and Administration officials, said the aid was important because the rebels put pressure on the Sandinista Government in Nicaragua to negotiate a peace pact They also said the aid should not be postponed because it was already approved by Congress.

“We continue to welch on people who trust us in the struggle for freedom,” said Congressman Henry

Hyde, a Republican. During a congressional appearance earlier in the day, the Secretary of State, George Shultz, made a last-minute appeal to the House to reject the aid moratorium.

But aid opponents insisted that the fighting has only hardened Sandinista resolve to continue the war, and said the American public does not support the contra policy. “It is bankrupt, it is anti-democratic, it is antiAmerican, and it destroys us,” said Congressman Stewart McKinney, who was the only Republican to vote with the Democrats to block the aid.