State Dept. Objects to Proposed Ban on Import of Egyptian Cotton

The State Department voiced strong objections today to a bill which would ban the import of Egyptian cotton. In testimony before the House Agriculture Committee. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Eugene V. Rostow said the Administration hoped for an early resumption of diplomatic relations with Egypt and opposed actions that would antagonize President Nasser’s regime.

Despite the fact that Egypt ended ties with the United States over the recent Israeli-Arab war, Mr. Rostow said “we wish to do nothing at this stage which would make restoration of normal relations more difficult when conditions evolve sufficiently to permit that step.” He stressed that the Administration hoped for early renewal of ties with Egypt and six other Arab nations which ended relations. He expressed regret at the absence of relations and said diplomatic contacts were particularly required in times of tension “when the risk is great that misunderstanding can escalate into hostility.”

He told the Congressmen that the bill to ban cotton imports would serve no useful purpose and would be construed by Egypt as a violation of United States pledges on international trade and might have the side effect of penalizing Peru, another exporter of long staple cotton. Congressmen had made it clear that the legislation had been conceived to cut cotton imports from Egypt and the Sudan because of the recent aggressive conduct of the two Moslem nations.