President Eisenhower, in his budget message for 1956, today called on Congress to approve a continuation of foreign aid and specified Israel among countries for which he will request funds in the fiscal year 1956. It was indicated that foreign aid will be less than was granted in the previous fiscal year.
The President said: “In the Middle East and Africa, we have provided some grant and loan assistance to promote economic development and political stability, and will request funds to continue this type of assistance in the fiscal year 1956. This assistance has gone to Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Libya.”
In a review of international affairs, the President did not refer specifically to Arab-Israel tension but did say that the Executive Department was “placing emphasis on revision of our several international programs to give appropriate attention to the important trouble spots around the world today.”
Commenting on the military assistance program, Mr. Eisenhower mentioned the Near East as an area to receive military aid. “Direct forces support will continue to be a significant part of the Mutual Security program for so long as the security of the free world requires that large forces be maintained in Asia and the Near East,” he said.
The President expressed confidence that the Emergency Refugee Act of 1953 will be successfully implemented before its expiration date. The Act provides for admission of 214,000 persons beyond the regular immigration quotas before December 31, 1956. Approximately 17,000 visas have been granted to date.
Mr. Eisenhower recommended continued U.S. support of those programs and international agencies through which funds have been made available for relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement of escapees, refugees, and other special groups. These agencies include the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration, and the United Nations agencies for Palestine refugees.
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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.
