The House accepted the Carter Administration’s views yesterday and voted $45 million in foreign aid to Syria and $60 million to Jordan although both countries are fighting the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and have imposed sanctions on Egypt.
The House had indicated dislike for the Administration proposal to continue assistance for Syria and Jordan. It continued debate today on the $4.2 billion authorization bill that faces three more legislative hurdles before it goes to the President.
Rep. Lee Hamilton (D. Ind.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee for the Middle East, observed that “obviously we’re not entirely happy with Syria and the positions that that government has taken on a variety of matters but there are enough positive factors to at least permit flexibility by Presidential discretion. What we want to do is to draw Syria toward the peace process, to enable Syria to keep its options open. What we do not want to do is to force them to choose against us.”
Hamilton pointed out that “Syria has always resisted a treaty with the Soviet Union.” He noted that the Carter Administration had recommended $60 million for Syria but the Foreign Affairs Committee reduced it to $45 million. Last year the House approved $90 million for Syria.
The House, by a voice vote, deleted language that would have required the President to certify Jordan was acting in good faith and qualified to receive U.S. assistance even though it also has refused to back the Egyptian-Israeli treaty or the Camp David accords.
STEPS TO IMPLEMENT PEOCE TREARY
Meanwhile, President Carter has taken two actions within 24 hours towards implementing the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. But the United States kept silent on statements by Egyptian leaders that prompted Israel to protest to Washington.
Following up on his request to Congress to approve $1.47 billion in supplemental assistance to Egypt and Israel, Carter disclosed today that he is sending a trade mission to Egypt and Israel next week. The White House said that special trade representative Robert Strauss will head the delegation of Congressmen, government officials and industry and labor representatives that will visit Egypt on April 17-18 and Israel April 19-20.
The members of the delegation will be announced later this week. The White House said the delegation will explore ways by which the U.S. will carry out President Carter’s commitment to increase American trade and investment with both Egypt and Israel. The group will leave here for Cairo April 16.
The $1.7 billion is a part of the approximately $5 billion to which the Administration is committed to provide the two countries over the next three years. Of this sum, $4 billion is earmarked for Israel to replace the two Sinai bases it is giving up to Egypt and the remainder is for supplying Egypt with weapons.
This money is apart from the $1.8 billion in economic and military aid incorporated in the regular foreign aid bill for Israel and $750 million in economic aid for Egypt for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Egypt, in addition, is to receive about $250 million in food for peace.
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