Reagan Can Win Humanitarian Aid but Not Arms, Wright Says
House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) today said President Reagan can still win humanitarian aid for the Contras but he added that Reagan should abandon plans for new military assistance despite the guerrillas’ new hardships.
Reagan is to come to Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to discuss a Contra aid package with House Republicans, but there was no sense of urgency on the part of the Democratic leadership in the House or Senate on resuming aid to the Contras that was cut off Feb. 29.
White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater maintained that the Nicaraguan drive into Honduras “improved chances” for new aid to the Contras by revealing Sandinista intentions toward the peace process.
Fitzwater acknowledged that there is no agreement on how or when to proceed on Capitol Hill. Despite cries of urgency still reverberating from last week’s Nicaraguan offensive, Fitzwater said, “We want to proceed with this in a manner consistent with the realities on Capitol Hill.”
Wright said House Democrats are still in favor of sending food, clothing, medicine and similar supplies to the Contras.
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