REAGAN WARNED OF ANTI-SANDINISTA AID

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303550003-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: April 1, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/16: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303550003-4
UNITM'i PRESS TNTERhATIO
EaGar 1 warned of anti-Sandinista aiAdPRIL 1983
LAMMI
WASHINGTON
Iowa congressmen Jim Leach and Tom Harkin are among 37 House members who
have sent a letter warning President Reagan that any secret CIA
2'1=i-Sandinista guerillas operating in Nicaragua would violate U.S. l to
in the letter released Friday, the congressmen law.
str c. compliance with our domestic legal o1igation5' andgthetchartersin
United Nations and the Organization of American States, of the
They said aid to anti-Sandanista guerillas might trigger a war between
Nicaragua and neighboring Honduras.
Harkin was one of 36 Democrats to sign the letter while Leach was the only
Republican.
A spokesman for Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., said there had been no response
from the White House to the letter, dated March 24.
'"
- .he letter
the members cited news reports indicating the CIA had
engared in covert operations against Nicaragua, including support of
anti-Sandinista forces based in Honduras.
''We believe that U.S.-supported anti-Nicaraguan forces may be involved in
the current hostilities " the lawmkers said. "If this is t
=h=s support is a violation of the Solana amendment to the DepartmentwofbDefense
app- riation5 bill adopted last December.
The letter said the amendment, which was sponsored by Chairma Edward Boland,
-M'ass., f the House Intelligence Committee, prohibits t,
De3artaent from aiding any group seeking to overthrow the he ^CIA or the Defense
Cr z-. erovoke ''a militarv exchange'' e Nii,cragua government
between, Honduras and Ali caraaua.
+ a believe that the current attacks inside Nicaragua
wr;c` open hostilities between Nicaragua and Honduras aral~atinuc
eeacdestincta climate
poss_c:ity, " the congressmen said.
The climate of tensions and escalatin
raises, we believe, the threat of direct conflict abetween vNicaraguaeandcaragua
Honduras, the members Baia.
Ecland, who was in China with a congressional delegation headed by House
Speaker Thomas O'Neill, D-Mass, was not among the signers.
in addition to Miller and Harkin, the 34 Democrats who signed the letter
included Reps. William Clay of Missouri; George Crockett Jr., Sander Levin and
Dale kildee of Michigan; and Edward Feighan, John Seiberling and Dennis Eckart
of Ohio.
Also Eruce Morrison of Connecticut; Parren Mitchell of Maryland; Martin Sabo,
James Oberstar and Bruce Yento of Minnesota; Jim Slattery of W11 !a
Gray of Pennsylvania; Sam Gejdenson and William Ratchford f CConnecticut; To
Downey, Richard Ottinger, Charles Schumer, Robert Mrazekand Ted Weiss of New
fork:
Aisg, Barney Frank, Jim Shannon, Gerry Studds and Ed Markey of Massachusetts;
Pete Stark, Julian Dixon, Anthony Beilenson, Leon Panetta and Ronald Dellums of
California; Pat Williams of Montana; Barbara Mikulski and Michael Barnes of
harvland: and Norman Dicks of Washington.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/16: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303550003-4