Senate Committee Slashes State Dept.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved sharp cuts on Tuesday in the State Department budget, and Secretary of State Warren Christopher warned that such a move could force the United States to close 50 overseas missions and to violate its obligations to the United Nations and NATO.

Christopher said he would recommend that President Clinton veto the bill, which faces a vote by the full Senate on Friday. The bill would reduce the State Department’s operating budget by 12 percent and cut Washington’s contribution to the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international organizations by 42 percent.