Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 24, 1990 TAG: 9004240649
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"I'm concerned that we not inadvertently do something that compels the Soviet Union to take action that would set back the whole case of freedom around the world," Bush said after a meeting with congressional leaders.
Bush told a group of agricultural writers after the session on Lithuania with congressional leaders that while he was not ready to announce penalties at this time against the Soviet Union, "If there were anything done, it would . . . be on the econonmic side."
Bush made his comments on Lithuania during a question-and-answer session with the farm writers following brief remarks. He also said he would not consider imposing a grain embargo on the Soviet Union.
Administration officials said Bush, who appeared a day ago to be on the brink of imposing economic penalties, decided to wait after there were reports from Moscow that U.S. sanctions could wind up making the situation worse in Lithuania.
"I'm not going to give up trying to get the Soviet Union and the Lithuanians into a dialogue," Bush said.
"I would encourage the Soviet Union and the Lithuanians to go forward right now with dialogue," he said. "Let's hope they can start talking. This results in a great deal of potential for the freedom that we seek for the Lithuanians."
"Therein lies the answer," Bush said.
"I will let the American people know, and the Congress know, when I decide to take certain action. And the decision has not been made," he added.
Administration officials had said earlier that Bush was near a decision on a package of economic penalties. But participants at today's congressional meeting said the president voiced repeated concerns over Soviet retaliation against Lithuania should the United States step up its pressure on Moscow.
Sen. Claiborne Pell, D-R.I, said Bush told congressional leaders he was not prepared to announce sanctions at this time because "the action could precipitate an escalation. We don't want to see that happen."
Pell, speaking to reporters on the White House driveway after the hour-long session, said that there emerged from the session "a general feeling of support for the president."
Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, said that Bush indicated he wanted to "consult with members of Congress" on the situation and added, "I don't think any decisions were arrived at."
Bentsen called the crisis in Lithuania a situation "where a great deal of discretion" would be given to the president.
A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that while Bush had appeared ready to move ahead on a series of economic measures against Moscow late Monday, he apparently had decided to wait a little longer to announce his decision.
A report from Moscow quoting Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman Vadim Perfiliev suggesting that U.S. sanctions could wind up backfiring and hurting Lithuania may have been a factor in Bush's decision to consider a possible U.S. response a little longer, the official said.
The anticipated steps would, in effect, put a hold on U.S.-Soviet trade-liberalization talks, which were scheduled to get under way today in Paris.
At the same time, the president has ruled out any major retaliation at this time against Moscow, such as a grain embargo or any action that would interfere with arms talks or with the May 30-June 3 superpower summit, the officials said.
Even before any action was announced by Bush, the Kremlin said sanctions could hurt both Lithuania and the overall international situation.
Perfiliev said that Moscow's dispute with Lithuania was "a problem which is purely an internal affair, and any actions which could pull the sides in the argument even further apart could have negative consequences, not only for the Soviet Union but for the international situation."
The Soviet government has cut off oil and gas deliveries to Lithuania and sent in troops to occupy government buildings and arrest military deserters.
House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., voiced support for a slowdown in the granting of trade benefits for the Soviet Union.
"We should not do things that directly interfere with U.S. interests, such as continued arms control discussions," Foley said in an interview in advance of today's White House meeting.
"I would think that it would be wiser for us to act in a way which would postpone or slow down things" that would benefit the Soviet Union, he said. "I think that's the right approach, rather than to postpone the summit or delay action" on either a nuclear arms limitation agreement or a pact on troop reductions in Europe.
Among the actions likely to be announced by Bush was a temporary withdrawal of his earlier support for Moscow's bid for observer status in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the international organization that oversees free-market trading rules.
by CNB