May 19, 1971
Page 15958
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, yesterday I discussed at length the reasons for my opposition to the Mansfield amendment. I said that I agree with the distinguished majority leader, Senator MANSFIELD, that there is no magic or sanctity about a European force level of 300,000 Americans.
I have supported him in seeking a reduction in our troop levels in Europe.
I have supported him in pressing our European allies to pick up a greater share of the burden.
I applaud the results he has achieved. It is time to take a new look at Europe – East and West – and to accommodate our policies to the perspectives and prospects of the 1970's.
Mr. President, I do not believe that Senator MANSFIELD's amendment is the right way to do it at this time.
I believe that negotiated cutbacks by both the NATO and Warsaw Pact countries are now the most potentially productive path to a reduced American military presence in Europe, a reduction of tensions and more open relationships between Eastern and Western Europe.
The Senate should encourage the administration to vigorously and strongly pursue the opportunity opened up by Mr. Brezhnev's recent call to start troop withdrawal negotiations, and Mr. Gromyko's subsequent discussion with Ambassador Beam. Such an effort would give us the chance to meet the objectives of this amendment while enhancing the stability and security of Europe. And that is what today's debate in the Senate is really all about.
Today I voted against the Nelson and Bayh amendments because they, with their mandatory troop reduction, create the same problems that I feel the Mansfield amendment contains.
My opposition to the Mansfield amendment, as I noted yesterday, does not represent in any way a lessening of the urgency with which I feel we should approach negotiations for mutual troop reductions with the Warsaw Pact or discussions with our NATO allies on measures to ease the balance-of-payments impact of our European military presence.
For these reasons, I supported the Mathias amendment which would put Congress on record as urging the President to move in these directions. The language of the amendment does not and should not preclude in any way the opening of bilateral negotiations with the Soviets on mutual troop reductions.
I am hopeful that mutual troop reductions in Europe, a change that is in the national interests of all the nations in the NATO alliance and the Warsaw Pact, can lead to a less costly, less fearful, and less hostile confrontation in Europe.