Congress Urged to Curb Sales of Conventional Arms by U.S. Manufacturers to Mideast, Other Areas

Sen. Clifford P. Case (R.NJ) opened Senate debate today on the new Foreign Aid Authorization Bill for the countries of the Middle East and other areas by requesting Congress to “put some shackles” on sales of conventional arms by U.S. manufacturers.

Amendments in the bill approved last week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are designed, he said, to give Congress as well as the Executive Branch the opportunity to veto or alter proposed military assistance and commercial sales projects which could adversely affect local balances of power.

At least 15 transactions worth more than $25 million each, Case said, were handled by commercial arms manufacturers and dealers in 1975. These included a complete “Hawk” antiaircraft missile system for Saudi Arabia for $266 million; C-130 transport planes to Saudi Arabia for $68 million; and helicopters to Israel for $63 million. A proposed $300 million “Hawk” missile system for Jordan is a government, not a commercial transaction.

Under the amendments, any transaction worth more than $25 million would be channeled through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales Program where, under amendments to the Nelson-Bingham legislation passed in 1974, such sales would be subject to Congressional review and possible veto if Congress disapproved within 30 days.

NO ARMS SALES TO NATIONS WITH BIAS

Another amendment sponsored by Sens. Case, Hubert N. Humphrey (D.Minn.) and Jacob K. Javits (R.NY)–all members of the foreign relations subcommittee on foreign assistance–would terminate military equipment transactions or training if American citizens are barred from participating in the projects because of their race, religion, sex or national origin.

“The American government cannot acquiesce in discrimination against its own citizens. We cannot sell out our own people because of the prejudices of kings and sheikhs,” Case said. The proposed supervision of weapons sales will not damage the American economy which is so large. Case said, that military equipment last year was only 2.6 percent of the U.S. exports.

“Indeed, the arms supervision amendments may help keep the economy from being hurt by the fallout of costly wars which could touch off another oil embargo or interfere with supplies of other raw materials and trade,” Case said.

Under the bill, Israel would receive $2.810 billion for military credits and economic supporting assistance for fiscal year 1976 that ends June 30 and the ensuing three months–the transitional quarter–that precedes the opening of the new fiscal year 1977 on Oct. 1.