Last night at midnight the previous continuing resolution expired and the operations of the Peace Corps. the operations of the Military Assistance Program in South Vietnam and elsewhere. and other activities contained in the foreign aid appropriation bill. came to a halt legally so far as the obligation of any new money is concerned. It is true. however. that expenditures as a result of prior obligations for the Military Assistance Program in Vietnam and elsewhere can and will continue. so there should be no interruption in our military efforts in this country. For example. if we do not pass this continuing resolution. the agency which makes the necessary arrangements to care for the 45.000 Cuban refugees in Florida would be in violation of the strict and technical letter of the law if it carries out its functions. because the authority to do these things expired last night at midnight. Another thing I might mention is that in Okinawa. which is one of the greatest oversea military bastions of this Government. the U.S. civilian administration of the Islands is provided for in the foreign aid appropriation bill and it is important that there be no disruption of the situation in this key military area. So it seems to me that we ought to pass this continuing resolution in order to fill the gap until the regular appropriation bill on foreign aid is enacted into law.
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