U.S. Has No Latin War Plans--Reagan

President Reagan, lobbying the House to resume aid to rebels fighting the Nicaraguan government, asserted Saturday that the United States has no plans to go to war in Central America.

Warnings that the United States was drawing closer to full-scale war with Nicaragua punctuated debate in the Senate last Thursday as it voted to approve a package of $38 million in humanitarian aid for rebels fighting the Marxist-led Sandinista government.

Reagan, urging in his weekly radio address that the House adopt a similar, but smaller $27-million aid proposal in a vote expected this week, noted that some House members also “claim that the United States plans to become militarily involved in Central America.”

“Well,” the President added, “no such plan exists.”

‘Paramount Questions’

He said the charge was “simply a distraction from the two paramount questions that must be faced by every (House) member: Will you support those struggling for democracy--will you resist the Soviets’ brazen attempt to impose communism on our doorstep--or won’t you?”

In his five-minute address to the nation from Camp David, Md, the President said the House--which earlier this year rejected aid for the rebels, known as contras --had a “very precious. . .second chance to do what is right.”

He urged the House to approve an aid package sponsored by Reps. Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.), Joseph M. McDade (R-Pa.) and Dave McCurdy (D-Okla.).

“The legislation will provide $27-million worth of assistance to the freedom fighters, and that’s not much compared to the hundreds of millions the Communists are spending to prop up their Nicaraguan dictatorship,” the President argued.

Humanitarian Aid

House Democratic leaders are expected to back an alternative that would funnel a reduced amount of humanitarian aid through the International Red Cross and the United Nations, instead of the through the Reagan Administration.

Also, the Democratic proposal would retain--against Administration wishes--the ban on arms aid to the contras, which the Senate voted to repeal.

Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.), giving the Democrats’ broadcast response to Reagan’s speech, said Congress’ willingness to resume aid to the contras , is “more like a second chance for the President’s policy” than it is “a second chance for democracy in Nicaragua.”

Gore added: “The fundamental message from the Senate vote last week is that we want to see the President make full use of every instrument of negotiation and diplomacy. . . . We do not want to see a resort to violence until and unless the vital interests of our country are engaged.”