White House Sees Hope in Senate’s Contra Aid Plan

The White House, saying its timetable for a new Contra aid package is “marked in days,” pronounced itself “very encouraged” Monday by a proposal in the Senate to provide $48 million in humanitarian aid to the Nicaraguan rebels along with some previously approved military supplies that have not been delivered.

While leaving open the option that the White House may press for another, as yet unformed plan, presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzwater avoided direct criticism of the package introduced by Senate moderates Friday. He stressed instead the urgency of providing assistance for the beleaguered Contras.

On the same day that State Department spokesman Charles Redman said Sandinista forces that crossed into Honduras last week have returned to Nicaragua and “the immediate problem of last week seems to have subsided,” Fitzwater remarked: “Every day is important, and we would like action as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, congressional leaders said the Sandinista incursion has softened some resistance to an aid package, but they would not predict whether the moderates’ proposal could break the long stalemate over the issue.

Put Together Last Week

The aid package was put together late last week after about 3,150 U.S. paratroopers and infantrymen were deployed to Honduras. Their mission has been described as an emergency exercise intended to demonstrate support for that Central American nation after 1,500 to 2,000 Sandinstas reportedly crossed the Coco River into Honduras in pursuit of retreating Contras.

The package would include delivery of some military supplies already purchased for the rebels but undelivered before congressional authorization for all shipments expired Feb. 29.

“We are very encouraged” by the proposal, Fitzwater said, although he added that “there are a lot of people suggesting changes, a lot of ideas floating around in the wake of last week’s activities.”

President Reagan is scheduled to meet privately today with House Republicans on Capitol Hill and will tell them that “the latest events prove we need” renewed Contra aid, a White House official said. But Reagan is not expected to speak in detail about the latest proposal or to endorse it specifically.

After several setbacks, the Administration has decided that it will have its best chance of winning approval to ship to the rebels new supplies of food, medicine and bandages, as well as the already-purchased weapons, if it allows moderates in the Senate to take the lead.

“Democrats in the House are more likely to respond,” said the White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), who would play a central role in gaining approval of any aid proposal for the Contras, said he would prefer a package of non-military aid “at the time the peace process is going on.”

Direct cease-fire talks between the Contras and Sandinistas began Monday for the first time in Nicaragua when representatives of the two sides met in the town of Sapoa.

Watching Peace Talks

“We’ll have to watch the peace talks,” Wright said. “I think there’s a chance, probably better than it has been,” of achieving success.

Wright also predicted that an assistance program lacking military aid would be approved “very swiftly” if the Republicans support it and that the Democratic leaders of the House are prepared to discuss a new package at any time.

As proposed by Sen. David L. Boren (D-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum (R-Kan.), the new plan would guarantee Reagan a quick vote on further military aid to the rebels if the military situation in Nicaragua continues to deteriorate.

This provision is opposed by House Democratic leaders, who have expressed fear that the White House would abuse it by inventing a crisis that would boost the chances for additional military aid.

A spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) said he prefers to let the House act first on a new Contra aid package. Byrd also prefers to wait and see the results of the Nicaraguan peace talks this week.

As a result, she said, it is unlikely that there will be any chance this week to attach the so-called Boren amendment to any other legislation.