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POLITICS.
US on trial Hope looms at coming arms talks
at World Court
Dy Steve Fong
Historically, the Roosevelt Corollary
lo the Monte* Doctrine
stucs thai the United Sutcs can
assume the role of an "interns*
ticoal police power" if a republic
In me Western hemisphere were
gutty of "chronic wrongdoing."
But doe our foreign policy
allow tit to engage is covert activitia
in order to overthrow an
unfriendly foreign power?
Recently, the World court, the
legal arm of the United Nations
known formerly at the International
Court ofjustice, hai been
oDod upon to answer that quenion
in a case brought against the U.S.
by the SanrllniKa government of
Nicanpu.
On April 9,1984. after the CIA
reportedly mined Nicaragua's
three main harbors, the Sandinistas
filed charges against the
U.S.
The U.S. contends its actions
were prompted by the need for
"collective self-defense."
Nicaragua allegedly tends arms
to leftist inernUu in Central
America, particularly In El
The World Court
Salvador.
This is the first time one nation
has asked the 40-ycar-otd court,
aituatcd in the Hague.
Netherlands, to rule that another
nation must stop armed aggrcssioa
»g«»w it.
Although the court cannot enforce
its decision, what h rules
could damage Ihe l.'.S.'s foicign
policy in terms of public relations
and support at home for foreign
intervention.
Largely because of this fear,
the U.S. has tried lo avoid having
the issue judged The administration
vetoed a U.N.
Security Council resolution condraning
U.S. acooas. In addition,
the government has boycotted
every session of the trial conceiting
the attempted overthrow
of Nicaragua. The U.S. asserts,
ironically, that the fame should be
considered by the U.N. Securi?
Council, not by the World Coun.
Although ibe VS. boycotts
each meeting, our government
does not, however. Ignore the
sessions. >n unofficial observer
from the Slate Department sits
and takes notes during each
meeting. Afterwards, the Stale
Department receives a cable
regardibg the day's proceedings.
A five'inan, multi-national
team of lawyers, led by Abram
Chayes, Harvard Law prifessor
and ex-chief State Department
legal advisor, argues for the
Nicaraguans in the 15-judgc
court.
Paul Reicber. the second
American lawyer on the team,
asserts be is no". snii-U.S.. but is
fighting for the sacred American
principles of "...respect for law
and the peaceful resolution of
disputes."
The lawyers are trying lo prove
that the Contra group U an
"artificial creation of the CIA,"
in the words of Luis Carrion, that
would fail militarily without U.S.
aid. Carrion is Nicaragua's first
vice-minister of the interior in
charge of state security.
The protecutJon's witnesses includes
both Nicaraguans and
Americans.
talhtHafoe.
Edgar Charoorro. an cx-rcbel
leader, contends &al Ihe Coolras
operate with the full knowledge
and support of the CIA.
Charoorro has further charged the
CIA with hiring saboteurs whase
deeds the Contras were directed
to take responsibility for.
The Sandinistas* case was dealt
a setback when Judge Stephen
Schwebel (U.S.) •declared Dr.
David MacMkhael's testimony
"suspect". An caper: in intelligence
matters and analysis,'
MacMicnael assent that no hard
evidence of illegal arms
shipments developed after 19tl!
during his tenure at the CIA. A
Nicaragua foreign minister's affidavit
contradicted Mac-
Michael's testimony.
Even though the U.S. has supported
the World Coun in the
past, especially when the Carter
administration sued Inn during
the hostage crisis there, it is
doubtful the American government
will need the court's ruling
\which is expected in late
llovemter or early December.
By Francis Chu
The Oencva Him talks, scheduled
lo bciin IhU week, and the upcoming
November summit between President
Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader
Mikhail Ctebachev have brought «•
hope for a new amu control
agreement.
Tne most talked
about issue in the
talks is "Star
Hbrs" defense.
The mow talked about issue ic sin
talks is the Strategic Defcme In*
ttlative (SDI). or "Star Win"
defeme.
Being ooe of ihc primary bargain*
ing dupe is the w^rilng titles, it
ntiy penuade the Soviets towinJ a
proposal to reduce nuclear anns in
return for restraint on SDI research.
Although SDI b a propam Reagan
strongly favors, Iv may also nave to
make some pr^f**knii in order to
reach an agreement with the Soviets.
A recent near-perfect test of an
anti-satellite weapon over the Pacific
may also he an important topic of
discussion ai the arms talks.
All these factors signal the first
hope of an agreement between the
two superpowers since the Strategic
Aims Reduction Talks (START) tailed
in 19B4, while Koniuntin
Chcmenko was still in power.
One obstacle to an agreement is the
fact thai the Soviets have not
presented a concrete offer prior to the
Geneva talk*.
Thb obstacle troy ntneer swift prc*
grew during the Ulki. since the
United States will have no idea what
sort of deal the Soviets -.till propose.
In fid. the Soviets have allowed
very liufe information aoout their inicrtkms
at the talks to teach the
public; most were rumors or am-
• biguous statements made by
Gorbachev.
The Soviets nave used as link propaganda
as possible, luting SDl's
tremendous cost, now $2.7 buTtoa •
year, convince Conjrtss not lo let it
p*ss.
. Gorbachev, who has displayed
deft:*** at public diplomacy, was
described ij the six U.S. Senators
who recently vlsllcd him as
"scriiMis" aboctt the talks.
should be able to reach some agree*
cm* that will oetermioe the direction
of the Geneva arms talks.
Such an agreement could set a time .
taKeforprogrmuatheiicgotiatians.
which could go oo for mooths.
Other than a reducika tn *4ra%gic
nuclear arms, vxne possible *m>*
posals could be: a ban on ASAVs;
• nof-proWoat^DT^oobwiofica
n f p ^ f
and chemical weapons; and a possible
U.S.-Soviet "crisis center" to
enhance f^Tflinrtfmf^Ta'Ofl oct^veen the
tTMi sup^iTKiwcrs and prevent cacala*
tion toward use of nuocar weapon.
Even if an agreement were reached,
there would still be many areas
of negotiatioo left.
Four sets of talks tint are curreatly
under way are die Conference on
One obstacle to an agreement is the
fact that the Soviets have not presented
a concrete offer prior to the
Geneva talks.
Altrnghopuunb Washington is
skeptical. lie hope of a successful
agreement being reached is still
prevent.
Even Secittaiy of Defense Caspar
Weinberger, the ta»k of the Reagan
admiiiittnticn, has supported the effort
to reach ad agreement with the
Soviets.
Tie United Sutcs expects a formal
proposal frwr Ihe Soviets a! Ihe talks
if they are setious about reaching an
agreement.
If this tuppem. then the Reagan-
Uortwchev ui.nmit on November 19
Disarmament in Europe. Mutual and
Balanced Force Redoctioa Talks.
Conference on Disarmament, and a
"772c? hope of a
successful agreement
being
reached is still
present." '
reviewing of Ihe Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty.
Battle against protectionism
By Ala Uu
The sentiment of Congress hts
grown from annoyance to anger over
the "unfair trade practices" of countries
such as Jspin, South Korea, and
Brazil.
"I've never seen so much protectionism
fever on Capitol Hill."
rcnutkcJ Vice President Georrr
Bush.
There have been no less than 300
"prorawnist" bills introduced into
Congress over Ihe last several ,
.nooths, many of ihem proposing iropon
quous or tariffs for specific
manufacturing induitries.
According in Clayton Yeiincr.
• i"?'_. "* "Praroative. "The
United Sutes b clow to sheer prc-
WUonum inm at any lime since
"In my judgment, it will continue
to be a major political issue through
the 1986 elections and pah
•jeyocd." Yomer remarked.
With ihe tnde deficit eipected lo
reach 3130 billion and no end ii
sight. President Ronald Reagan
recectly came up with a plan lo
reduce the trade deficit and revitalize
the capon Industry.
automobile manufacturers. Dole, fellow senators John Outueelmaicn,
and high technology forth. (R-Mo.) and Uoyd Bcntscn.
seiriconductor'nuking companies. (D-Tei.) and Representative Dan
Rostenkowski. (D-lll.) are
In (act, about eight months ago. the "- . — • • . ,
San Josc-based Semiconductor [n. 'P"rheading the coagrcsiioBal
duuy Asiocbuxi (SIAI filed a com- movement Tor nn HfCtKHU un»
plaint under a rarely-used section of "They're still way behind a Coo-
die 1974 Tndc An.
gresx bent on toughening our
response to unfair trade." stated
The SIA jllq:cJ thsl United Stales Roitenlowski.
chipmakers hat! been denied accos Rostenkowski is Ihe sponsor of a
to markets in Japan. South Korea, bill that »ould levy a 25 percent tarifT
and Brazil.
on goods from nations that hold a
"We would tell them: We expect you
to provide American exporters access
to your markets' ..."
The President's plan calls for k
"strile force" of fedaal agencies
that will "cccovcr unfair trading
practices against the U.S." like Ihe
infractions alleged by tli SIA.
Reagan is alw calling for another
round of iueraalional Bade talks
"fder the General Agreement on
Tamils and Trade in Gene... which
includes 91 nations.
Another aspect of Reagan V plan a
...the US is "closer to sheer protectionism
than at any time since
1930."
The plan iuchidcs $300 million to
be given out lo kn inttrest loans as
"export subsidies." a tactic tc
counter sioUar moves made oy
France and other nations that offer
money in the form of grants to potential
clients.
The major Industrie* pushing for
some sort of protection and which
might get such an "export subsidy"
have been the shoe industry.
to lower die value of the dollar
through intervention by the federal
government and several other countries
In the International monetary
exchange.
To some of the congressmen
pushing for protctlot&t trade legislation,
however, this is but a drop in
the bucko.
"We believe that this will not be
enough." stated Robert Dole,
republican senator from Kansas.
large trade imbaUncr with the United
States.
Senator Enxst HoUings. (D*South
Carolina) claimed. "We nave the
votes to defeat a veto" if Reagan
vetoes a protectionist measure.
The Reagan adniwiitraUon Is
noticeably ttghc*iippcd on this ii***^ f •
When ssked if the President flight
veto any bill that set up trade barrierj,
Yeuncr replied, "Thai's 1 decision
, he'll have to make."
However, he did mcotioo
"reciprocity" legislation, saying it
had "potential, if it could be made
sufficiently flexible."
• "In effect, we would tell them:
'We expect you to provide American
exporters .access to ycur market that
would be substantially equivalent to
the access lhat we provide to your exponrrs
io our troket.' " Yeuncr
said.
Ycuner also otTettd advice to
members or Congress: "Some of
•heir legislative proposals are useful
as leverage — providing ihey doe'l
pass them!" '
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