Jackson Calls on Administration to Give Top Priority to Resolve Conflict in the Middle East

Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D. Wash.) last night called upon the Nixon administration to give top priority to resolving the Middle East conflict. Speaking at a press conference here before addressing the annual Jewish National Fund dinner, Jackson declares “Our biggest task, now that Vietnam is no longer a predominant area settlement-wise, is to concentrate through quiet diplomacy, whether it be in the White House or in the State Department, in settling the (Mideast) dispute.”

“We must end once and for all the Mickey Mouse arrangement whereby Israel and Egypt speak through third parties,” Jackson continued. “They must confront one another directly and face to face across the conference table. What makes this matter so critical is that the Persian Gulf represents 80 percent of the known oil reserves of the world and the stakes are enormous.”

In a released statement on his amendment to the East-West Trade Bill, Jackson said “if it takes a Congressional amendment to a trade bill to remind the Russians that the Declaration of Human Rights signed in 1948 includes the right to emigrate, then we will have an amendment that shows we mean business.” Jackson is the author of an amendment that would deny most favored nation tariff treatment and participation in U.S. credit programs to countries that deny their citizens the right to emigrate or which impose prohibitive taxes on emigration.

He said that “our principle weapon is to pass my amendment and we are going to do so when the appropriate legislation comes up before the Congress.” Noting that three-quarters of the Senate Joined in the co-sponsorship of his amendment in the last session, Jackson said “I can assure you that there will be no let up in our efforts.”

SPECIAL TO JTA