P122 MTV3 p122 .Ma 06 Hel 2141:31 1/3 U.S. FOREIGN AID BUDGET CALLED LEADERSHIP TEST WASHINGTON, FEB 6 (REUTER) - PRESIDENT CLINTON'S BUDGET PLAN FOR 1996 EFFECTIVELY MAINTAINS FOREIGN AID SPENDING AT CURRENT LEVELS AND "IS THE ROCKBOTTOM MINIMUM" NEEDED TO DEFEND U.S. NATIONAL INTERESTS, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAID MONDAY. HE TOLD REPORTERS THAT LAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTIONS WHICH SWEPT REPUBLICANS INTO CONTROL OF CONGRESS "WERE NOT A LICENSE TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR GLOBAL INTERESTS" AND HE DESCRIBED THE $21.29 BILLION PROPOSED SPENDING FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AS A "TEST OF OUR COMMITMENT TO LEAD." THE SPENDING ... <121 123>