Rep. Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat, today introduced legislation calling on the Arab states to enter direct negotiations with Israel to resolve the Arab refugee impasse. The bill asks the President to take such steps as may be necessary to bring about direct negotiations.
Rep. Farbstein and Rep. James Fulton, Pennsylvania Republican, are co-authors of an amendment for reduction by five percent of the U.S. contribution to the Arab refugee fund. Rep. Farbstein said “We should phase out our assistance to encourage disposition of this problem” and that he would urge further reductions.
The State Department, meanwhile, made it known today that the U.S. wishes to persuade Israel and the Arab states to limit further acquisitions of “lethal weapons.” In a letter to Rep. Cornelius Gallagher, New Jersey Democrat, Assistant Secretary of State Douglas MacArthur 2nd said: “The United States has sought to avoid becoming a major supplier of arms to any country in the Near East. By not becoming involved in the arms spiral, we have hoped we might play an effective role in persuading both sides to limit further acquisitions of lethal weapons.”
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