Sen. Flanders Asks Greater Recognition of Nasser, Suez Seizure

Sen, Ralph E. Flanders, Vermont Republican, called on the Senate floor today for greater recognition of the Nasser Government and acceptance of the nationalization of the Suez Canal” as part of an American program for the Middle East.

Meanwhile, he suggested “support for Israel in negotiating for the Gaza Strip as new area required for settling Jews displaced from adjoining territory. “

He urged assurances to the Arabs on limitations of Israeli boundaries and future population.

Chairman Hubert H. Humphrey of a Senate subcommittee studying the Middle East today described Arab “fear of Israeli expansionism” as “genuine.” He told U.S. News and World Report that it was America’s duty “to make it quite clear that we are opposed to expansionism or aggression from any quarter. “He said this meant “boundaries between Arab countries and Israel must be adjudicated by negotiation if there’s to be any realignment of those boundaries.” He described present boundaries as “temporary” and as “demarcation lines for the armistice.”

Sen. Humphrey described the Arab refugee problem as a “festering sore” and voiced hope that the United States would be able to prevail “upon both Israel and the Arab countries to do something about this.”

He said “one way that you might get a start is for Israel to accept the fact of responsibility for repatriation of the refugees, and then, on a quota basis over a period of time, you could repatriate a certain number, if they want to come back and go through the process of being reintegrated. Therefore, the Arab States, having won their point, so to speak, will be in a more receptive mood to re-establish these refugees in other lands Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and other places.”