Speech #970081762

I believe that reliance on a military solution to the tragedy of El Salvador continues to be a grave error on the part of the administration. The administration should read in section 707 a clear warning to reconsider its policy and to pursue the avenues for peace urged by many of my colleagues. by our friends and allies. by American religious leaders. and by the church in El Salvador. I believe that the administration should resolve to get at the bottom of the murders of American citizens in El Salvador. and I believe that the administration should change its policy toward the great numbers of homeless cast out of El Salvador by the violence there. and to grant Salvadoran refugees the same status that refugees from conflicts in Southeast Asia and elsewhere are granted. It is clear that American arms and American military personnel have not improved the situation in El Salvador. I am concerned that the American military presence continues to expand in the area. now including reports of green berets in neighboring Honduras.