European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 18, 1991the stars and stripes Page 7iran hostage probe to proceed1980 Reagan Bush Campaign under scrutiny Washington a the House democratic leadership has approved a preliminary staff investigation into whether the 1980 Reagan Bush Campaign against president Jimmy Carter conspired with Iran to delay release of american hostages until after the election. But aides looking into the matter already have disproved an allegation that president Bush then the vice presidential candidate secretly met with iranian representatives in Paris in october of 1980, one source said. House speaker Thomas Foley majority Leader Richard Gephardt and the chairmen of several committees met privately Early this week to discuss the Overall Issue and put their authority behind the efforts of several key staff members to. Review available evidence according of sources who requested anonymity. A it has intensified a said one democratic source of the inquiry that has been going on less formally for several weeks. As part of the probe the general accounting office s office of special investigations is looking into some aspects of the Case an official of the Agency confirmed. A group of House members that has conducted interviews on the matter met thursday with Richard Vallen a former Campaign official and Reagan s first National Security adviser. Allen staunchly denied the alleged scheme. A i have no record recollection memory or evidence of any iranian trying to Contact the Reagan Campaign a Allen told reporters after the closed door session with lawmakers. Rep. William Broomfield r-mich.,said Allen had provided convincing denials of any conspiracy to delay the release of hostages and asserted that democrats were having second thoughts about their inquiry. A i think its evaporating very fast and right now they re on a fishing expedition a he said. In its private meeting earlier this week the democratic leadership gave a More formal endorsement to the staff level review and asked for a report recommending whether to go to a second phase that could include subpoena ing documents and putting witnesses under oath said sources speaking on condition of anonymity. Asked about the development Foley told a reporter Only that he was looking for Quot other avenues of  \ the Issue is regarded As delicate. Dam Prats fear their probe could be portrayed As a a a a politically motivated attempt to tarnish Bush or to gain advantage going into the 1992 presidential elections. A the politics cuts both was on this a said one democratic  is not the Issue that a not what we re after. 1 he question is Contact Between the Campaign and the  one leadership aide said the Cong res Siona Biran Contra investigating commit tees already had in their Possession secret service records from the .1980 Campaign that verified Bush was in Washington on the dates in october when others alleged he attended a meeting with iranians in Paris. The allegation was among the hottest. Assertions in a recent article by gary1 sick a Middle last scholar and former Carter administration official who has spent two years researching the charges. Sick found a a curious pattern that led him to believe the Reagan Bush Campaign had arranged with Iran to delay the release of hostages in return for a roundabout Promise of weapons once the new a administration was sworn in. The Carter administration had barred weapons sales to Iran but Israel a close . Fly began to ship Iran weapons soon alter Reagan s inauguration and the release of 52 american hostages wild were freed within minutes of the swearing in. Sick said detailed lists of the equipment sent by israeli were in the Possession tit senior Reagan administration officials airline worker staying on Job sans makeup Houston up a a Boston ticket counter agent fired for refusing to comply with a controversial Continental airlines policy requiring she Wear makeup met thursday with the carriers chairman and agreed to return to work. Publicity Over Teresa Fischette a. Firing prompted Continental a Day earlier to modify the carriers recently adopted policy setting appearance standards for the airlines employees. Fischette was fired after she refused to comply with a policy requiring female ground personnel who Deal with customers to Wear makeup. Continental offered wednesday to reinstate Fischette 38, with Back pay. The Carrier then flew the ticket agent who said she never wears makeup to Houston for a meeting with chairman Hollis Harris �?o1 am thrilled a she said thursday a i feel this is a real bold step Forward to really concentrate on what a important which is customer service and air safety in the airline Industry. A i Hope that people will feel they can make a difference As an individual and that a grass roots approach can make a real  Continental said its a customer service appearance standards a which took effect May 1, a will now be considered guidelines rather than  a we did no to gauge the response of our employees and the Public so we  to change the rules a Harris said. A things like wearing make up which Are personal choices will be  the appearance standards were designed in Continentals words to a better reflect the diversity of Public expectations for service Industry  new Hampshire offers itself As abortion Pill testing area Concord . Apr new Hampshire has offered itself As a testing ground for the French abortion Pill ru486. Quot a in a non binding Resolution sent to the pills maker. Congress and Federal regulators lawmakers said that in countries where ru486 is used it has been proven Safe and effective for abortions. The Resolution the first of its kind in the country added that ru486 appears to have some effect in treating certain brain and breast cancers and other diseases. A a certain political Agenda is holding up medical research into the possible uses of ru486,�?� said sen. Richard Russman. A the new Hampshire legislature. Urges that politics get out. Of the path of medical progress.despite the states conservative reputation the vote surprised neither Side in the heated debate. Lawmakers have passed  of abortion rights Bills in the three years that Republican Judd Gregg has been governor. Gregg vetoed each one and the Senate and House  Muster the two thirds majority needed for overrides. Because the Resolution is nonbinding Gregg a signature is not needed freeing the legislature to declare what Russman said Are the states True feelings on abortion and ru486. Sen. Gordon Humphrey a freshman state lawmaker after retiring from the . Senate said there was no need for the Resolution because at least 10 ru486 research projects Are under Way with approval of the Federal food and drug administration. A what is the Block we re trying to overcome a he asked. A a whatever problem there May be has been blown vastly out of proportion by  Humphrey also objected to calling ru486 a Safe and effective a saying it has been blamed for at least one death in France. Another opponent. Sen. Eleanor Podles said the state has no business telling the Fra what to do. A a we re making new Hampshire women Guinea pigs in a worldwide Money game a the Republican Lawman . Trade Gap shrinks to Washington a americans Trade deficit shrank dramatically to $4.05 Bdl Ion in March the smallest Trade Gap in almost eight years the government said Friday. The Commerce department said the March difference Between what the United states exports and what it imports was 26.5 percent below the february deficit of $5.5 billion. The improvement reflected the tact that imports declined to  level in about two years while Export sales Rose to the third highest level on record. For the first three months of this year the . Merchandise Trade deficit has been running at an annual rate of $67.7 billion Down from last year s $101.72 Bill Ion. The administration and Many private forecasters believe the deficit will improve in 1991 although the Pace of decline is expected to slow in coming months As spreading economic weakness in such major markets As Europe cuts into . Sales. In a new Trade Outlook sent to Congress the administration forecast that this yearns deficit would decline to $90 billion marking the first time it has been below $100 billion since 1983. Since hitting a record of s152.1 billion in 1987. The . Trade deficit has posted steady improvements. It has been the major Bright spot in the Economy for several years As Strong growth in exports has helped offset weaknesses at Home. For March imports fell 2.7 percent to $38.04 billion. It was the smallest import total since january 1989 and reflected in Large part the fact that foreign producers As Well As american companies Are feeling the effects of weaker demand during the . Recession. New Hampshire state sen. Jordon Humphrey argues against a Resolution that offers the state As a testing ground for the French abortion Pill ru486, or said., critics contend that Roussel Iclal the pills maker contributed to delays in . Testing for fear of reprisals the National organization for women noted in supporting the new Hampshire vote. Quot the message that goes out today to the Fra and Roussel Claf is that the citizens of new Hampshire will riot let women a lives and health be held hostage by the actions of a vocal a minority a said Pat Murphy a spokeswoman for now a new i Lampshire chapter. In 8 years the drop in imports came even though americans foreign Oil Bill Rose 1.6 percent in March to $3.76 billion. The volume of Oil imports was up 9.8 percent but this was largely offset by a drop in the Price which fell to $17.15 per barrel Down $ 1.43 from the february average. Exports Rose 1.2 percent to $.33.99  january and october recorded High Export totals. The strength in March came from a big $750 million increase in shipments of aircraft and a $250 million Rise in sales of telecommunications equipment overseas