93d Congress, 2d Session House Document No. 93-869

VETOING HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1131, A

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL

YEAR 1975, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

VETOING HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1131, A JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1975, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

OCTOBER 15, 1974.-Message and accompanying joint resolution

ordered to be printed as a House Document

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

38-012 0 WASHINGTON - 1974

93d Congress, 2d Session House Document No. 93-369
To the House of Representatives:

At the beginning of my Administration I pledged to work closely

and cooperatively with the Congress. I believe I have kept that

promise. I have appeared before two joint sessions of the Congress, I

have met frequently with the leadership of both Houses, and I have

agreed to appear personally before a subcommittee of the House of

Representatives-a step no other President has undertaken in more

than a century.

These actions are an earnest of my commitment to a new partnership

between the legislative and executive branches of our government.

They reflect my deep belief that the antagonisms that have too long

divided our nation must be resolved, that hopes for partisan advantage

must be put aside, and that we must get on with the business of doing

the best we can for our country.

The cooperation I have received from the leadership of the Congress-Democratic and Republican alike-has been truly remarkable.

The leaders have advised me and I have listened; I have explained

my problems to them and they have responded with understanding

and support. For this I am deeply grateful.

It is, therefore, with deep regret that I am returning today without

my approval the recently passed continuing resolution, H. J. Res. 1131,

granting funds for the operation of several Departments and agencies

and for the temporary continuation of our foreign aid programs. I

take this step with great reluctance, but in the belief that I have no

other choice.

The continuing resolution the Congress has passed and sent to me

for signature contains an amendment requiring an immediate cut-off

of all military assistance to Turkey. That amendment was passed despite my own public objection to it, and in the face of the unanimous

opposition of the bipartisan leadership of both Houses of Congress.

It is an act which is harmful even to those it purports to help.

The United States is making every effort to play a useful role in

assisting the parties to a resolution of the Cyprus dispute. The continuing resolution as amended is entirely destructive of those efforts.

Instead of encouraging the parties involved in the Cyprus dispute to

return to the negotiating table, an arms cut-off to Turkey could mean

the indefinite postponement of meaningful negotiations. Instead of

strengthening America's ability to persuade the parties to resolve the

dispute, it would lessen our influence on all the parties concerned. It

would as well imperil our relationships with our Turkish ally and

weaken us in the crucial Eastern Mediterranean. It directly jeopardizes the NATO alliance.

Most tragic of all, an arms cut-off would not help Greece or the

Greek Cypriot people who have suffered so tragically over the past

several months. We recognize that we are still far from a settlement

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H.D. 369
consistent with the honor and dignity of Greece, and are prepared to

exert our influence to that end. But reckless acts that prevent progress

toward a Cyprus settlement harm Greece, for it is the Greek government and the Greek Cypriots who have the most to gain from a compromised settlement. And it is they who have the most to lose from continued deadlock.

It is for these reasons that I am vetoing the bill sent to me. I do so

because, should this measure become law, it would be impossible for the

United States to continue to play any meaningful role in assisting the

parties to resolve the Cyprus dispute. We would inevitably be forced

to withdraw from the negotiations because the Congress would have

taken from us the tools we need to affect the outcome.

My choice, then, is unavoidable; my responsibility clear. I ask that

the Congress reconsider its action and send to me a bill that we can all

support; a bill that provides the flexibility needed to tarry forward

the foreign policy of the United States.

GEIU|w R. FoRD.

TIlE WHITE HoUSE, October 14, 1974.

H.D. 369