President Johnson has told Jordan’s King Hussein that America’s Middle East policy remains devoted to peace throughout the Middle East. That was the nub of a joint communique issued by the President and by King Hussein, as the two concluded their talks and Jordan’s ruler was preparing today to carry his campaign for recognition of the Arab, anti-Israeli viewpoints to New York and the United Nations.
While the joint communique made no specific reference to Arab-Israeli differences, it was known that those issues took up most of the time in the talks between the President and King Hussein, The communique stated only that the discussions concerned “matters of mutual interest and concern, ” The communique stated:
“The President presented the views of the United States on various world problems, including those of the Middle East. He emphasized the strong desire of the United States for friendly relations with all Arab states, and its devotion to peace in the area. King Hussein put forward the views of Jordan and the other Arab states on various Middle East problems and their impact on relations between the two nations. Cordiality, good will and candor marked the discussions. A common concern for preserving and strengthening a just peace in the area was evident throughout the talks.
“The two leaders declared their firm determination to make every effort to increase the broad understanding which already exists between Jordan and the United States, and agreed that His Majesty’s visit advanced this objective. The President expressed the intention of the Government of the United States to continue to support Jordanian efforts to attain a viable and self-sustaining economy.”
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHARGES ‘ABUSE’ OF HOSPITALITY
Hussein concluded his official visit to Washington today with an effort to explain “the Arab view of the Middle East” to a group of Congressmen whom he invited for lunch at Blair House, the President’s official guest house. During his two days, here, Hussein met for two conferences with President Johnson, addressed a press conference, and made a virulent anti-Israel speech before the Citizens Committee for American Policy in the Near East,” in which he echoed the Arab propaganda charges concerning alleged double loyalty of Jews outside Israel.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee issued a statement here today denouncing Hussein’s “abuse of hospitality of the United States while here as a guest of the President, to malign the Zionist movement, to insult the great majority of the American Jewish community who strongly support Israel, to misrepresent the facts about Israel, and to distort the objectives of U.S. policy.”
The statement, signed by Rabbi Philip Bernstein, chairman, and I.L. Kenen, executive director of the committee, noted that, for may years, American Jews have been strongly supporting American aid to Jordan and other Arab states because they hoped that such help might promote peace and be in the best interests of the United States.
However, the statement noted, in view of the belligerent attitude adopted at the recent Cairo conference, “we have a right to ask as to the purposes for which Hussein seeks additional aid. ” The statement concluded by announcing that, in light of the above, “our committee will undertake a full review of the U.S. aid program in the Near East at our national policy conference which will be held in Washington May 3 and 4.
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