Senate Hears Stream of Speakers Oppose Sanctions on Israel

A stream of Senators and Representatives took the floor today to speak our against anti-Israel sanctions. Republicans and Democrats advanced similar arguments against sanctions although Democrats aimed their fire at the Administration for allowing the Middle East situation to deteriorate into the present impasse.

Sen. Stuart Symington, Missouri Democrat, opposed imposition of sanctions on Israel, stating that sanctions should instead be applied against Egypt for barring Israel shipping from the Suez Canal. Sen. Symington asked if the United States would support “the strong against the weak.”

Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, Minnesota Democrat, said the problem should be placed “right on the doorstep of President Dwight D. Eisenhower” and questioned if the “Eisenhower Doctrine” meant tanks for Saudi Arabia and sanctions for Israel. He called for fair American leadership at the United Nations and vigorously opposed any threat of sanctions against Israel.

Joining with Sen. Humphrey was Sen. Richard Neuberger, Oregon Democrat, who criticized President Eisenhower’s “unprecedented” trip to the Washington National Air port to pay homage to Arabian King Saud on his arrival. Sen. Paul H. Douglas, Illinois Democrat, called on United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold to press for a public statement from Egyptian President Nasser on the rights of Israel shipping in the Suez Canal.

Chairman Styles Bridges of the Senate Republican Policy Committee said: “It would be wrong for the United Nations to apply sanctions against Israel if it is going to do nothing about Russia for its defiance of the General Assembly on the tragic repressions of Hungary, or about India for defying the Security Council of Kashmir, or about Egypt for defying the Security Council in respect of Israel shipping in the Suez Canal.”

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS JOIN IN OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL SANCTIONS

Sen. Leverett Saltonstall, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, said that sanctions against Israel under present circumstances would threaten the success of the United Nations as a world organization. Sen. Saltonstall is also ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Another Massachusetts Republican, Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers, charged that those who favored sanctions were going “to make Israel walk with plank,” She said it would be a “very great mistake” to single out Israel for punishment.

Sen. Thomas Kuchel, California Republican, today joined with his California colleague, Republican Senate Leader William Knowland, in opposing anti-Israel sanctions. Sen. Kuchel said the United Nations should merit respect only if it adheres to “equal treatment” of all members. He said Israel should withdraw but that such withdrawal should be accompanied by appropriate and effective United Nations assurances against Egyptian transgressions.

Sen. John Sparkman, of Alabama, an influential Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said “It is like putting the cart before the horse to apply sanctions to Israel before giving that country sufficient guarantees that her sovereignty will not be violated. “Sen. Jacob K. Javits, N. Y. Republican, said the United States, instead of the United Nations, should seek guarantees of non-belligerence from Egypt covering the right of Israel ships to use the Suez Canal.