Three Republican Senators today asked Secretary of State Christian Herter to obtain firm guarantees of free transit for Israel shipping in the Suez Canal, before the United States approves a World Bank loan to the United Arab Republic for Canal improvement.
The Senators were Jacob K. Javits, and Kenneth Keating of New York, and Hugh Scott, Pennsylvania, all Republicans. They reminded Secretary Herter of a letter from Assistant Secretary of State Macomber, on July 3, in which Mr. Macomber said the U.S. executive director of the World Bank was aware of developments involving Israel in the Suez Canal issue.
In light of this, the Senators noted that the Bank is moving forward with consideration of a loan to the UAR. They told Mr. Herter: “We would appreciate your advice as to what is being done to obtain from the UAR firm assurances and guarantees of free transit through the Canal. Needless to say, we do not feel that money should be advanced to the UAR for the Canal without at least these assurances in hand. “
Representative Seymor Halpern, New York Republican, also addressed a letter today to Secretary Herter asking him to consider the views of 13 members of the House Banking and Currency Committee on the issue of a World Bank loan to the United Arab Republic to improve the Suez Canal. The Congressmen voiced opposition to the loan because of the UAR’s anti-Israel blockade of the Canal.
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