Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is apparently no longer so sure that disengagement talks between Israel and Syria will get underway next week in Washington as he originally predicted. This emerged today after Kissinger briefed the Senate Armed Forces Committee on the Middle East situation behind closed doors.
Sen. John Stenms (D.Miss.), committee chairman, described Kissinger as “still very hopeful” that the talks would move forward. But he said Kissinger was reluctant to be pinned down on the actual dates. On Mar. 6 Kissinger said he expected the talks to begin in Washington in about two weeks.
Meanwhile, Kissinger refused to make any comments about reports that the Soviet Union in Arab-language broadcasts Is urging that the oil embargo against the United States be maintained “I don’t want to make any comments on the bas is of radio broadcasts,” he said upon leaving the committee meeting. “I am not familiar with any official moves by the Soviet Union.”
DETENTE POLICY CHALLENGED
But two conservative Senators, Harry F. Byrd (D.Va.) and James L. Buckley (C/R NY) used the broadcasts today to challenge the Nixon Administration’s detente policy. “There seems little doubt that the Soviets influenced recent Arab actions in establishing oil embargoes and drastically and repeatedly raising the price of oil,” Byrd said. He said that while “Russian leaders have signed agreements with the U.S. we must remember they have received far more than they have given. This is true both in trade and arms Our representatives are so anxious to get agreements that they are too willing to make Unmatched concessions.”
Buckley said that President Nixon and Kissinger were “so concerned with preserving the appearance of detente that it will result in making “the world considerably less safe than we now find it.” Buckley introduced amendments that would deny most favored nation trade benefits and credits to any country that jams international broadcasts that were supported by U.S. tax dollars. This would include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
