Two congressmen, a Democrat and a Republican, disclosed today that they were organizing a full-scale house floor debate on Middle East policy to take place on February 24, the night before President Georges Pompidou is to address a joint session of Congress. Rep. Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat and member of the house subcommittee on European affairs, and Rep. John H. Buchanan, Alabama Republican, said the debate would be organized along the lines of the one that was organized by Vietnam war critics to keep the house in all night session before the October moratorium. They said, however, it was not their intention to keep the house in session all night but stressed their belief that “there should be sufficient time to thoroughly discuss this vital matter.”
In a letter circulated to members of the house, the two congressmen said they did not think that President Pompidou should be denied the opportunity to address Congress but insisted that the house should have the opportunity to make clear its disagreement with French policy on the Middle East. Rep. Farbstein said Thursday that he had declined an invitation to attend a reception for M. Pompidou at the French Embassy.
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