The Ford Administration has reaffirmed to Congress that it opposes any reduction in its planned assistance this fiscal year of $1.3 billion to Egypt, Syria and Jordan, despite the United Nations anti-Zionist resolution, It also wants approval of $2.3 billion earmarked for Israel. The figures include military and economic support and agricultural commodities under the Food for Peace program. The same amounts are envisioned for the next fiscal year.
The Administration would find it “extremely difficult to cooperate in any cuts,” in the programs for these four countries, Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Assistance last Friday. He suggested that if reductions are required, that they come from allocations recommended for other parts of Asia, Africa and Latin American in the global aid proposals for upwards of $4.7 billion.
Rep. Garner E. Shriver (R.Kan.) asked Kissinger how he reconciled “these significant amounts” for the three Arab countries with their vote on the UN Assembly resolution on Zionism on Nov. 10, Kissinger replied “we believe the long-term interests of the United States require that we encourage moderation by the Arab countries” and that “we believe their vote does not override these interests.”
When Shriver pressed as to why no U.S. action should be taken “even against that verbally abuse our country.” Kissinger replied, “we will have to take those case by case,” He added that the U.S. should assist countries “in our own national interest.” Kissinger referred to the UN vote as “a passion of the moment.” In Pittsburgh last Wednesday, he said he viewed it “an emotion of the day” and said the resolution was aimed at condemnation of the State of Israel.
DANGEROUS PRECEDENT CITED
“It would be a very dangerous precedent for Congress to go through the United Nations vote and start cutting aid on the basis of UN votes.” Kissinger told Rep. Clarence Long (D.Md.), who suggested that course.
Taking issue with Kissinger on U.S. policy on sales of arms to the Middle East. Long pointed out that Egypt is to get $7 billion in weapons, much of them with funds from the Arab oil countries. “Where would Egypt use them?” Long inquired. Kissinger replied that he had not seen “such figures.” But he added that “obviously,” Egypt fixes its needs by its views of its conflict with Israel. Egypt, he pointed out, is taking “a moderate course.”
“That’s what we hear.” Long responded, “but what guarantee is there that this will continue?” Kissinger replied if U.S. assistance is not forthcoming. “Egypt would go back to its traditional supplies,” the Soviet Union.
TEMPTATION TO START WAR
Rep. David Obey (D. Wis.) challenged the requests for military aid for Israel. Gen. Mordechai Gur. Israel’s Chief of Staff, had told him Israel can defeat the Arab states. Obey said. Kissinger responded that if aid is not continued to Israel, “the Arabs might be tempted to start a war.” He added that Israel must take “its place in line” for weapons being produced and those ordered this year may not be delivered until 1950.
Kissinger also said Israel is “probably slightly stronger” now than in 1973, “but remember, we had to have a massive airlift” to help Israel in the war that year. “A country of three million surrounded by 160 million that haven’t even recognized its existence can never feel secure.” He noted that “all the intelligence people” had envisaged in October, 1973, that “Israel was overwhelmingly superior and would win in 48 hours. But at the end of the week, for all practical purposes, Israel was running out of munitions.”
When Rep. William Chappel (D. Fla.) questioned the position of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, in supporting the anti-Zionist resolution, Kissinger said that “all the countries of the Arab world are under domestic and inter-Arab pressure.” On Third World countries that attacked Zionism, Kissinger said the votes of at least some Third World countries were “fairly accidental,” and in a few cases, their ambassadors were “uninstructed.” He added that “if countries continually thwart our national interests, we will take this into account but not in the legislative process.”
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