Republicans Hit State Dept. for ‘explaining’ Goldberg to the Arabs

The Republican Congressional Committee today charged that the State Department humbled America in the eyes of the world by apologizing, in effect, to Arab states for the appointment of a Jew, Arthur J. Goldberg, as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

The committee, in a newsletter, cited the role of G. Mennen Williams, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and called on President Johnson to dismiss Mr. Williams. The organ of the Republican members of Congress denounced Mr. Williams’ “decision to stoop to ‘explaining’ to North African countries that, in naming Arthur J. Goldberg (who happens to be Jewish) as Ambassador to the U.N., President Johnson is not encouraging an anti-Arab policy.”

According to the official Republican view of the matter, the explanation in the Goldberg case was unnecessary since U.N member states name whomever they please as envoys to the U.N., with no agreement sought from the United States. The Republicans cited India’s persistence in maintaining at the United Nations the “anti-American, pro-Communist Khrishna Menon.”

State Department attempts to apologetically explain the selection of Mr. Goldberg constituted a “national abasement,” said the Republican organ, Referring to Arab states, the Republicans said; “From now on, we can undoubtedly expect a step-up in their ‘anti-colonialist’ antics and the itch in their outstretched palms, Unless, of course, by speedily sending Williams back to Michigan, President Johnson demonstrates that the United States intends to look after its own interests with no apologies to anyone for what we think is right.”