P269 CEEFAX 269 Tue 19 Jun 21:11/28 ***** UNITED STATES 1/6 ***** Once again Senator Edward Kennedy has taken the lead among Democrats opposing Reagan's Central America policy. On June 18 hj proposed two amendments in the Senate to prohibit US forces fighting in El Salvador or Nicaragua, and to stop US aid to Nicaraguan rebels Both wire defeated, though the House of Representatives has passed similar ones Sennjdy spoke of "the deep and growing concern of the American people that the administration is taking us into war in Central America." More in a moment.........P269 CEEFAX 269 Tue 19 Jun 21:21/10 ***** UNITED STATES 2/6 ***** This week Latin American debtor nations will meet in Colombia; renewed protests at high interest rates are likely. Argentina is still refusing to cancel a plan to raise real wages by 6-8 pet cent, despite opposition bz the IMF. The US Treasury has said it will not provide a big bridging loan to Buenos Aires without an agreement whth the IMF This is likely to make it impossible for Argentina to keep up with interest payments on its debt, leading to a big dent in American bank profit figures. More in a moment.........P269 CEEFAX 269 Tue 19 Jun 21:12/12 *R*** UNITED STBTJS 3/6 ***** With the departure of chief economic advisjt Dr Martin Feldstein, Mr Paul Volckjt has become the top Cassandra on the US government's huge budget deficit The Senbte and House of Rjpresjntativjs are continuing their effort to fix an agreed package of budget cuts to pass. Volckjt, head of the Federal Rjsjuvj Xequivblent of the Bank of England) has told a committee of Congress "decisive action" to cut the deficit is needed. But hj also said this year's cuts will not bj enough to ease interest rates. More in a moment.........P269 CEEFAX 269 Tue 19 Jun 21:13/30 ***** UNITED STATES 4/6 ***** Hart supporters still claim Mondale is not sure of enough delegates to win the Democratic party nomination. "One of the easiest things to do with the right breaks is to switch 100 delegates on the convention floor," says top Hart aide David Mixner. This kind of work at a convention is done by a candidate's HQ with a bank of phones, co-ordinating "floor captains". Hart was one of those who master-minded the 1972 convention victory of Senator George McGovern. More in a moment.........P269 CEEFAX 269 Tue 19 Jun 21:00/11 ***** UNITED STATES 5/6 ***** Though no delegate is formally bound to vote for any candidate at this year's Democratic party convention, Mondale seems to have all the support hj needs. Challenges to the credentials of some Mondale delegates seem necessary to stop him winning the nomination. Hart supporters have claimed over 600 Mondale delegates were invalidly chosen bjcausj of breaches of finance rules. But Hart's challenge is likely to concentrate on six Florida and 53 Pujtto Rico Mondale delegates. More in a moment.........P269 CEEFAX 269 Tue 19 Jun 21:14/32 ***** UNITED STATES 6/6 ***** Usually a party's presidential nominee does not choose a vice-presidential running-mate long in advance. But Mondale says he is to start talks this week with possible candidates, including Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. If Mondale is to bj the Democrats' nominee, one thing he must try to remedy is his appalling showing in western states in the contest with Hart This must increase the chances of San Francisco's mayor, Mrs Feinstein. More in a moment.........