Latin American Aide

The Harvard-Radcliffe Committee on Central America (COCA) is coordinating a Cambridge campaign seeking passage of a referendum opposing U.S. military aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

The committee, which has already distributed more than 2500 leaflets around the city, telephone Cambridge residents this weekend to urge them to vote tomorrow for the referendum, Michael P. Adams '83, co-chairman of the committee, said yesterday.

Committee members will hand out leaflets at subway stations and near polling places on election day, he added.

About 40 Harvard students are participating in the drive, Adams said, adding that many of those working have never before campaigned.

The campaign began this fall with a fund-raising effort aimed at liberal city residents. The $150 raised covered printing costs for more than 6000 leaflets, Adams said.

Symbolic Force

Jamie B. Raskin '83, spokesman for COCA, said the referendum is important as a "symbolic force telling Reagan to stop backing the dictators and armies" of the three Central American countries targeted by the referendum.

The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously last spring to put the question on the ballot after receiving a petition with 1600 signatures collected by COCA, Adams said. The council also sent the White House and Massachusetts' congressional representatives a statement opposing Reagan's policies toward Central America.