A bi-partisan declaration urging the Arab states to enter into direct peace negotiations with Israel and opposing attempts by outside powers to impose a Mideast settlement has been signed so far by 200 members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The declaration was drafted by Sen. Hugh Scott, Pennsylvania Republican, and Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, Connecticut Democrat. Among the signatories are Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the Democratic whip, and Sen. Edmund S. Muskie of Maine, the Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate in the 1968 election.
The declaration condemned “one-sided United Nations resolutions which ignore Arab violations of the cease-fire and which censure Israel’s reply and counter-action.” In it the lawmakers said, “We deeply regret that Israel’s Arab neighbors, after three futile and costly wars, still refuse to negotiate a final peace settlement with Israel. We oppose any attempt by outside powers to impose halfway measures not conducive to peace.” The declaration added that “to ensure direct negotiations and to secure a contractual peace settlement, freely and sincerely signed by the parties themselves, the U.S. should oppose all pressures upon Israel to withdraw prematurely and unconditionally from any of the territories which Israel now administers.”
The declaration was made public as reliable sources here said that the Nixon Administration has agreed to a new $30 million arms deal with Jordan including the sale of a second squadron of 18 F-104 jet interceptors. King Hussein of Jordan has purchased one squadron and obtained an option for a second three years ago. Deliveries of the first F-104s have been delayed and are not expected to start until some time this summer. Observers here had said it was doubtful that the King would be permitted to exercise his option owing to persistent tension in the Mideast. However, during his official visit to Washington earlier this month, he told the Nixon Administration that he wanted the additional squadron and the sale has apparently been approved in principle. Details are now being worked out, the sources said. The Administration also agreed to sell Jordan other equipment including armored personnel carriers, communications equipment and small arms, but balked at a Jordanian request for more tanks.
Reliable sources said the Nixon Administration viewed the sales as primarily a symbolic gesture to bolster King Hussein’s shaky position against the rising strength of Palestinian guerrillas in Jordan and to satisfy the demands of his officers’ corps for more new weapons. The sources said the Administration believed Israel had no cause for concern since the aircraft deliveries have not even begun and Jordanian strength and technical capabilities are still far inferior to Israel’s. Jordanian pilots are training at U.S. Air Force bases.
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