With the growing likelihood that American civilian technicians will be required to help maintain a second Israeli-Egyptian agreement in Sinai the State Department indicated today that Congress will have to approve such a U.S. role and until it does, the entire agreement would not take effect. Asked by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency whether Congressional approval means a vote on U.S. participation in the agreement, State Department spokesman Robert Funseth said he assumed that would be the case.
It is understood a provision in the agreement would have U.S. civilians operate early warning equipment stationed between Israeli and Egyptian lines. Whether any other American role is envisaged could not be determined, Funseth said that the purpose of White House and State Department consultations with Congressional leaders is to get their views before a decision is reached.
Funseth observed that the Administration was “in very close contact” with the Congress on the current negotiations involving Cairo, Jerusalem and Washington. He did not identify the Congressmen other than Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Sparkman (D. Ala.). When it was noted that a Congressional vote might delay the interim agreement going into force, Funseth observed that Congress would resume its session on Sept. 3.
Meanwhile, speculation continued high that Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger would make a visit to the Middle East next week for a brief diplomatic shuttle to complete an agreement, but neither U.S. nor Israeli officials would confirm that.
Kissinger was in Birmingham, Ala, today, making a foreign policy speech. He goes to Vail, Colo tomorrow for a weekend of talks with President Ford who is vacationing there, Kissinger will return to Washington Monday. Meanwhile, Undersecretary of State Joseph J. Sisco, who is holding talks here with an Israeli political team, is serving as Acting Secretary.
ISRAELI TEAMS CONTINUE TALKS
The increasing tendency by the Administration to involve Congress in approving the Administration’s commitments in a second Sinai accord came as United States and Israeli financial experts moved toward completing their talks today on U.S. support for Israel’s military and economic requirements during the U.S. fiscal year which began July 1. But the political experts of the two countries continued their talks with no sign of an immediate close.
After a two-hour meeting at the State Department this morning on the political aspects of a second Sinai accord, Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz said “progress” was made relating to a “possible agreement between us and Egypt.” He said another meeting would take place later today in Sisco’s office.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy has announced it will help Egypt clear its minefields in a Mediterranean area northeast of Suez, Work is expected to begin next week and be completed in a month. The cost of between $2 million and $3 million will be borne by the Agency for International Development. The State Department said this project had no relation to the on-going negotiations toward a second Sinai accord.
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