Secretary of State Christian Herter, as one of his first acts after assuming office, made known that he was taking steps to reopen and review the long-delayed Jordan River development scheme. This was revealed today by Sen. Hugh Scott, Pennsylvania Republican, who met with the Secretary to discuss matters involving Israel prior to the latter’s departure for Paris.
Sen. Scott said today that Secretary Herter had unveiled plans for a “new look” at the Johnston Plan for development of the Jordan River.
The Israel phase of the Johnston Plan has long been postponed because of the State Department attitude. The State Department approved and aided work by the Arab State of Jordan on a portion of the scheme within Jordan territory. Israel repeatedly sought agreement to proceed inside its own boundaries with the Israeli portion of the project. But the State Department heeded Arab objections and on one occasion in 1953 even temporarily suspended economic aid to Israel to restrain it from working on an irrigation project.
Israel has maintained that, despite the Arab refusal to cooperate with Israel in the overall development scheme, Israel should be allowed to proceed with the phase within its own boundaries in conformity with the outline of the Johnston Plan.
Sen. Scott told the JTA today he was pleased to hear Secretary Herter tell of his hopes to bring the Jordan River plan forward toward fruition.
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