Bi-partisan Group of Congressmen Demand That Nixon Confront Hussein on Terror Issue

Arab terrorist activities against Israel were roundly condemned by a bi-partisan group of Congressmen who demanded in the House of Representatives yesterday that American military aid to Jordan be ended and that King Hussein be confronted with the issue of terrorists operating from his soil when he comes here next month for talks with President Nixon.

The legislators were led by Rep, Hamilton Fish, New York Republican. He said a danger to peace was created by Communist-armed Arab terrorists in Jordan and charged that King Hussein either “is willingly permitting the terrorists to operate on his soil or he has become so weak he has no alternative.’

In either case, Rep. Fish said, “Unless King Hussein can be shown to be taking effective steps to deal with the terrorist groups which now flourish in his country, it would seem well to terminate the present program of military assistance with Jordan.” He said that Jordan, which had become “a privileged sanctuary for terrorists,” was receiving Patton tanks, U.S. anti-aircraft weapons, field artillery, mortars, communications equipment, radar and jet aircraft while Jordanian pilots were being trained at U.S. Air Force bases under the military assistance pact concluded by the last Administration. He warned that King Hussein “has become so shaky” that there was a good chance of U.S. military technical manuals and classified equipment falling into the bands of pro-Soviet Arab officers and their Russian advisers.

Rep. Leonard Farbstein, New York. Democrat, introduced a bill to amend the foreign military assistance act by prohibiting assistance to countries in which groups such as the Palestine Liberation Army receive military training. Rep. Edward J. Derwinski, Illinois Republican, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was essential to establish, during King Hussein’s coming visit, “the extent of Communist supply of weapons to guerrillas and terrorists based in Jordan.