Senate Armed Services Committee Rejects Inquiry into Brown’s Fitness to Serve in His Position

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 11-4 last night to reject a proposed inquiry into Gen. George S. Brown’s fitness to continue in office as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff because of slurring remarks he made against American Jews last month. Sen. John Stennis (D.Miss.), the Committee chairman, announced to the press after a prolonged closed door meeting. “We have disposed of the Gen. Brown matter.” The Senate Committee’s House counterpart, chaired by Rep. Edward Hebert (D.La.) is now expected to act similarly on a resolution before it calling for an inquiry into Brown’s fitness.

The resolution for a hearing on Brown was submitted by Sen. Thomas J. McIntyre (D.NH) and was backed by three other Democrats, Henry M. Jackson of Washington, Stuart Symington of Missouri, and Harold E. Hughes of Iowa. The 11 Senators who voted against an inquiry included Strom Thurmond (R.SC), John Tower (R.Tex.), Peter Dominick (R.Colo.) and Barry Goldwater (R.Ariz.), all ardent supporters of the military. Another Senator who voted against a probe, Robert Taft Jr. (R.Ohio), submitted a resolution of his own to call Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger before the Committee to explain why Brown should not resign. It was defeated by a vote of 10-3.

Stennis elucidated the Committee’s majority viewpoint in a statement to reporters in which he referred to the “severe reprimand” administered to Brown by President Ford. “The General has apologized and been reprimanded and there is nothing for the Committee to do,” Stennis said. “Gen. Brown made a mistake. He over spoke him self. He got out of bounds. He is a very fine officer.”

SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT BROWN’S REMOVAL

McIntyre, in his own statement to the press, said he had wanted the Committee to make a “specific inquiry” into “how deep seated are the opinions expressed by Brown” that American Jews and Israel exert undue influence on Congress through control of banks and newspapers. He said he also wanted to examine the extent that Brown’s remarks “reflect dissatisfaction within the armed services over our Mideast policy” and the “propriety of public discussion of complex foreign policy issues by our ranking military officials.”

McIntyre then remarked that since his call for Brown’s resignation, “it has become evident to me that some members of an immediately outraged American Jewish community have developed second thoughts about the General’s removal from office. I find this completely understandable. Were the General to tender his resignation, or be ordered to do so, some elements of the American public inevitably would Interpret this as further evidence of the alleged inexorable power of the Jewish lobby,” McIntyre said.

On Nov. 19 leaders of 14 Jewish organizations met with Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger. The Secretary told the Jewish leaders that they were Justified in being outraged over Brown remarks. The Jewish leaders, however, agreed that their discussion with Schlesinger was not to be made public and left Washington without issuing any statement.

JWV STILL WANTS BROWN OUT

At least one national Jewish organization, however, is standing by its demand for Brown’s ouster, in telegrams sent today to McIntyre, Jack-son. Symington and Hughes commending their vote In favor of a Brown inquiry. Judge Paul Ribner, national commander of the Jewish War Veterans, said the organization will “continue to seek Gen. Brown’s replacement.”

The JWV was the recipient of Brown’s first apology for the remarks he made at Duke University Law School Oct. 10 but rejected It. Judge Ribner said the JWV was “appalled at Gen. Brown’s latest public reaction to this serious situation,” a reference to the General’s remarks in Sacramento, Calif, yesterday before the Comstock Club.

It was Brown’s fourth public statement of “concern” over the episode. He prefaced it by saying, “I meant no affront,” at the Duke Law School, and “in fact, those present felt none.” Some here felt that remark indicated that Brown still does not understand the full implication of his allegations or the reaction to them.

In addition, some observers here note that there is no information as to what Ford actually told Brown on Nov. 14 when he personally rebuked the General during a face-to-face meeting at the White House. The observers point out that no reporters were present when Ford issued his rebuke. The report of the face-to-face meeting was provided to newsmen by White House Press Secretary Ronald Nessen.