Thirty Republican Senators and Representatives today submitted a statement on the Israel-Arab problem to the Platform Committee of the National Convention of the Republican Party, which started meeting here this morning in preparation for the Convention opening next Monday. They requested that the statement be included in the platform declaration which the National Convention will adopt. The statement will come up for discussion tomorrow. with proponents and opponents testifying.
The statement, as proposed today, pledges to work for direct Arab-Israel peace negotiations, endorse the Jordan water-sharing project, and favors continued American economic aid to Middle East countries to be used for development to raise living standards "but not to finance preparations for aggressive war."
The statement deplores "reckless" Soviet shipping of arms to Egypt and the persistent Arab threats to destroy Israel. It urges the integration of Israel into the United States defense system, "so that she may be strong enough to defend herself and to deter attack. "It also advocates measures to prevent an imbalance of arms between the Arab states and Israel."
The text of the proposed statement reads:
"In the Near East, we will work for an Arab-Israel peace as a major objective of our policy. To that end, we will support the integrity and independence of all the states of the area and we will urge the Arab states and Israel to negotiate directly to resolve all their differences at the conference table.
"We deplore as a setback to the attainment of peace the opposition of our UN delegation to the resolution calling for Arab-Israel peace negotiations at the United Nations, in December 1961.
"We favor regional economic cooperation, an end to boycotts and blockades, freedom of navigation in the Suez Canal, the resettlement of the Arab refugees in Arab countries where there is land and opportunity for them. We oppose discrimination against American citizens on the ground of race or religion.
"We will continue to support the equitable and constructive use of the water resources of the Jordan-Yarmuk system, as recommended by the Eisenhower Administration, and we support the water programs of Israel and Jordan, which are within the framework of that plan.
"We will continue economic assistance to the peoples of the Near East but we will insist that our assistance be used for development to raise living standards and not to finance preparations for aggressive war.
"The peace of the Near East is menaced by the reckless Soviet arms shipments to Egypt and other Arab states, by Egypt’s expansionist policies and persistent Arab threats to destroy Israel. To avert new hostilities and to ensure stability we will take measures to prevent an arms imbalance and to integrate Israel into our defense system so that she may be strong enough to defend herself and to deter attack."
Sponsors of the statement include: Senators Case (N.J.), Javits (N.Y.), Kuchel (Calif.), Prouty (Vt.), Scott (Pa.), Simpson (Wyo); Representatives Anderson (Ill.), Andrews (N. Dak.), Broyhill (Va.), Clausen (Calif.), Cunningham (Neb.), Dwyer (N.J.), Halpern (N.Y.), Horton (N.Y.), King (Calif.), Kunkel (Pa.), Mclntire (Me.), Osmers (N.J.), Ostertag (N.Y.), Pelly (Wash.), Robison (N.Y.), Schweiker (Pa.), Sibal (Conn.), Tolleison (Wash.), Tupper (Me.), Utt (Calif.), Wallhauser (N.J.), Wharton (N.Y.), Wilson (Calif.).
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