Progress on Arms Code

A new warning flag waves in the global arms-sales race led by the United States. The House of Representatives has passed the Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers, wisely ignoring the code's defeat in committee and going on record against weapons sales to dictators. With senatorial agreement, the code would become an amendment to State Department authorization legislation.

Unfortunately, President Clinton continues to hold out against the code. Thus he retains the heavy burden of self-policing arms exports so that these dubious fruits of gung-ho American salesmanship do not fall into the wrong hands.