HAITI ... U.S. MULLS EXILE FOR JUNTA

President Clinton, in yet another switch, now says Haiti's ruling military triumvirate may escape punishment if it leaves the country without prodding from the U.S. military. To restore democracy peacefully, Clinton said he would even allow General Raoul Cedras and two others to slip into comfortable exile, possibly with bribes from wealthy, nervous Haitians. This reverses assertions by top U.S. adviser Bill Gray last week that the military men would be tried in Haitian courts. By Monday afternoon, Administration officials found themselves having to deny rumors that they were poised to execute the bribery scheme. TIME State Department correspondent J.F.O. McAllister notes that U.S. payoffs to questionable foreign strongmen are nothing new, and adds, "It's a lot cheaper than an invasion."