The American Israel Public Affairs Committee opened its 15th annual policy conference here today. The event, which marks AIPAC’s 20th anniversary is being attended by more than 300 Jewish community leaders from all over the U.S. A record number of Congressmen–45 Senators and 210 Representatives from 47 states–will be attending various functions during the two-day gathering. President Nixon, in a message to the conference, expressed his “warmest congratulations” and lauded the “organization’s commendable contribution to the cause of friendship between the United States and Israel.”
One Issue on the conference agenda is the Nixon Administration’s decision to expand assistance to the Arab states. Addressing himself to that matter at the opening session. AIPAC chairman I.L. Kenen said: “We welcome improved relations between the United States and Arab states and we support measures which would raise the living standards of the Arab people and thus promote peace in the areas. But we deplore any proposals which may strengthen the military capability of countries which waged war against Israel within the last year…and which have not yet declared their readiness to negotiate a peace with her.”
The opening session heard Prof. S. Fred Singer of the University of Virginia, a former deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Interior, and Prof. Peter B. Kenen, of Princeton University, assail the role of the major oil companies and the Arab oil producing states in world problems.
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