Jewish Congress Submits Views on Eisenhower Doctrine ” to Senate Body

The American Jewish Congress, in testimony submitted today to the joint session of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees of the U.S. Senate, said that the Eisenhower Doctrine, in its present form, is “inadequate” because it does not address itself to the basic conflicts in the Middle East.

The AJC contended that the greatest single shortcoming of the doctrine is the lack of any requirement that an Arab government, in order to qualify for American military or economic aid, must first give tangible evidence of its willingness to negotiate a peace settlement with Israel.

The AJC urged that economic assistance under the Mutual Security Act be forbidden to any foreign states carrying on “economic and social warfare” against American citizens. Such warfare, : the AJC submission stated, was being waged by Saudi Arabia, in its policy of excluding American Jewish servicemen from the American air base at Dhahran: by Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan, in their refusal to grant entry and travel visas to U.S. citizens who are Jewish: and by Saudi Arabia and Jordan, in their trade and economic boycott against American businesses owned or partly owned by American Jews.

Suggesting a number of amendments to the Eisenhower Doctrine, the American Jewish Congress called for the establishment by the UN General Assembly of a special commission on arms traffic in the Middle East. This, the AJC thought, would deal with the problem of furnishing arms by Soviet satellites to Arab countries. In addition, the AJC suggested that an amended resolution should declare that “the welfare” of the United States is related both to the prevention of further hostilities in the Middle East and the free passage of ships of all nations through the Suez Canal. “

SEN. MORSE TAKES ISSUE WITH ZIONIST LEADER ON EISENHOWER DOCTRINE

Senator Wayne Morse (D. Ore.) took issue today with the testimony of Rabbi Philip S. Bernstein of the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs that the Eisenhower Doctrine is a step forward in U.S. -Middle East relations.

Rabbi Bernstein, testifying before the combined Senate committees on foreign relations and armed services on President Eisenhower’s Middle East plan, said that the President’s proposal to strengthen the Middle East is an important step, but that it does not come to grips with the crucial Arab-Israel problem, nor does it contain adequate guarantees for Israel. Rabbi Bernstein outlined a plan to insure Israel’s security which he urged as a supplement to the Eisenhower plan.

Among the points Rabbi Bernstein urged to supplement the Eisenhower Doctrine were the following: direct Arab-Israel negotiations for peace, strong international action to stop sea blockades, security guarantees for any nations ready to commit itself to the west and to peace. Sen. Morse asked the Zionist leader how he could assert that the Eisenhower Doctrine is a constructive step when it fails to meet the crucial problems of the area or to contain adequate safeguards for Israel as he had just outlined.

Rabbi Bernstein replied that he thought the Eisenhower plan would serve to warn Russia against aggression in the Middle East and that this was a positive although limited step forward. Sen. Morse said he disagreed and that he would oppose the resolution because it fails to work through the United Nations and does not direct itself to the problems of the area.

Other non-governmental witnesses questioned the adequacy of the Eisenhower Doctrine in failing to deal with the Arab-Israel and Suez issues, David C. Williams, director of research and education for the Americans for Democratic Action, told the committee that military guarantees under the Eisenhower plan are futile without prompt action to deal with the immediate arab-Israel and Suez problems. He called for the deployment of UN forces along the Arab-Israeli frontiers and for the use of the Suez Cana to shipping of all nations.

Kenneth M. Birkhead, national executive director of the American Veterans Committee, also emphasized the failure of the President’s recommendations to face up to intra-area quarrels in the Middle East. He expressed concern over the testimony of Secretary of State Dulles which he said has minimized the aid which the President’s proposal might provide for Israel. Mr. Birkhead spoke of the burden Israel suffers because of the Suez Canal blockade and the threats from unfriendly Arab neighbors directed against her. He criticized the Administration for denying arms to Israel.

On the other hand, Elmore Jackson of the Friends Committee on National Legislation expressed agreement with the Administration in assigning the Israel-Arab conflict and the Suez Canal crisis to the United Nations.