U.S. Uses Toughest Language Yet on Haiti : Caribbean: Officials say multinational force will be used either in peaceful transition to rule by deposed president or to defeat dictatorial regime.

The Clinton Administration, using its most strident rhetoric so far, said Wednesday it will use the multinational military unit it is assembling to restore exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power in Haiti either to keep order after a peaceful transition or to defeat and depose the island’s dictatorial government.

By declaring the American government’s determination to restore democracy to Haiti no matter what it takes, Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch seemed to cut away much of the Administration’s room to maneuver, leaving it with no graceful way to avoid an invasion unless Haiti’s military government, headed by Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras, steps down soon.

“The multinational force is going to Haiti,” Deutch said in reference to a U.S.-dominated army that is training at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico. “The (only) issue is the circumstance under which that force enters Haiti. It could be under a permissive circumstance at the request of the legitimate (Aristide) government . . . or it can be under contested circumstances if the de facto government, the illegal government in Haiti, does not come to its senses.”

In any case, Deutch said, the Pentagon expects to resolve the matter soon. Although he did not set a deadline, he said one or two weeks of training will be enough to prepare an invasion force after all the elements of that force are assembled.

Talbott said Washington continues to prefer a peaceful end to the crisis in which Cedras and his supporters agree to surrender control to Aristide, the winner of Haiti’s only internationally certified free and fair modern presidential election.

But he gave no indication Washington expects such an outcome.

Talbott and Deutch briefed reporters at the State Department one day after obtaining from the 11-nation Caribbean Community an endorsement of the use of military force to dislodge the Cedras military government.

Four of the nations agreed to send a token contingent of 266 soldiers to join the force.

Besides the single company of troops from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Belize, Talbott said Britain and Argentina have agreed to contribute naval ships and crews but no ground forces. He said the Administration hopes to enlist more foreign contingents but declined to say which countries are likely to send them.

“We will be continuing to work with our partners in the international coalition between now and when it is necessary and appropriate to deploy the (multinational force),” Talbott said. “We’re very confident when the time comes we will have what it takes.”

Deutch said the United States hopes to enlist about 1,000 foreign troops to join at least 10,000 Americans. But he left little doubt that the American government can go ahead whenever it thinks the time is right, regardless of the size of foreign contributions.

Deutch said the invasion force would be large enough and sufficiently well equipped to assure overwhelming superiority over the ragtag Haitian army of about 7,000 men. That is the best way to minimize casualties, both among combatants and civilians, he added.

There is no question the invasion will be primarily an American effort. Deutch said the commanders will all be Americans and American troops will lead the initial assault. He said “the bulk of the non-U.S. troops would be deployed within the first 10 days.”

Talbott said events in Cuba will not affect planning for the Haiti operation.