House Debates Blockade of Suez to Israeli Shipping; U.S. Action Urged

A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee charged today in a debate in the House of Representatives that “nothing affirmatively has been done by the President or the State Department” to open the Suez Canal to Israel shipping and cargo.

The member, Rep. Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat, warned that “unless the President shows that we will take strong measures to stop this piracy, a further conflagration might erupt.” He called on the White House to act in support of the President’s 1957 pledge on Suez that “any renewed violation by Egypt should be dealt with firmly by the society of nations.”

Rep. Charles A. Boyle, Illinois Democrat, told the House that the World Bank should withhold a loan to the United Arab Republic for widening of the canal until “the saber-rattling Colonel Nasser” respects international agreements on canal transit.

Rep. Roman Pucinski, Illinois Democrat, asked the House: “What sort of international society do we live in when the dictator of Egypt can approach the World Bank and ask for additional funds on one hand, when on the other, he is denying the use of the canal to the gallant people of Israel?” He expressed hope that President Eisenhower would take firm action “so that once and for all Mr. Nasser is going to recognize the fact that Israel today is too well established to be harassed.”

Rep. Herman Toll, Pennsylvania Democrat, said: “Every member of Congress should join these members in urging a change in policy to take place in support of the little nation which has fought for Western democracy.”

Rep. Seymour Halpern, New York Republican, said: “The free world cannot continue to condone a brazen violation of a United Nations decision and of international law. We favor, of course, the improvement of relations between the United States and the United Arab Republic. We ask, however, that the UAR observe its obligations and respect the rights of other peoples.”