The Senate Foreign Relations Committee at its session this afternoon voted 10-1 to approve President Cater’s nomination of Sot Linowitz as U.S. Special Ambassador to the Middle East. The committee’s recommendation was sent to the full Senate for confirmation where it is considered certain to follow.
The only opponent in the committee was Sen. Jesse Helms (R.NC) who raised questions during the session this morning about a possible conflict of interest between Linowitz’s unpaid, government assignment and the various corporate directorships he holds.
Linowitz, 65, who replaces Robert Strauss who resigned in October to manage Carter’s reelection campaign, said he plans to leave for the Mideast as early as Thursday and would meet with President Anwar Sadat of Egypt in Cairo and later with Premier Menachem Begin of Israel in connection with the summit meeting between the two leaders scheduled for Dec.12-13. Linowitz also disclosed that he has sent a message to King Hussein requesting that the Jordanian ruler meet with him He observed, in the course of his testimony, that Jordan and the Palestinians “must be encouraged” to join the peace process.
Although seven at the eight committee members present at this morning’s hearing indicated their approval of Linowitz’s nomination, the confirmation vote was delayed because of the questions raised by Helms who said he thought, that Linowitz should resign trom his membership on the boards of Pan American Airways, Time, Inc., other companies, and his own law firm before being confirmed.
WILL AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST
” I give you that very strong assurance,” Linowitz said, that “at no time during my tenure will I participate in any manner or form in any activities” that might in any way affect his assignment. When Helms said he was especially troubled by Linowitz’s affiliation with Pan Am, the Ambassador-designate replied, “In any issue, if I have the slightest suggestion of possible, apparent conflict of interest, I will not participate in it.” He said he had agreed to serve as Special Ambassador for a period of one year “without compensation.”
Linowitz, who has been a diplomatic trouble-shooter for several Presidents , and most recently negotiated the Panama Canal Treaty, was questioned closely on his new assignment by Sen. Jacob K. Javits (R.NY).
“My immediate objective will be to immerse myself” In the negotiations, he said. ” I intend to take-up the reins quickly,” adding, “believe I have never undertaken a more difficult assignment.” He said that James Leonard, who served as deputy to Strauss would continue to serve him in the same capacity.
NECESSARY TO INVOLVE PALESTINIANS
Linowitz emphasized that it was going to be necessary to Involve the Palestinians In the peace process but pointed out that there is a difference between the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza and the Palestine Liberation Organization. “It has been long established government policy” since September, 1975, that the U.S. will not “negotiate (with) or recognize the PLO until it first accepts” UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, Linowitz said.
Pressed by Javits to define “accepts,” Linowitz replied that “in this world, ” the U.S.” must remain steadfast” in order for its policy toward the PLO to “make sense.” He said that “if tomorrow” PLO chief Yasir Arafat made a statement of acceptance of U.S. conditions, “it would require careful probing” by the U.S. “to be sure at the substance and exactly what it means.” He added that because of the sensitivity of the situation, he would confer both with the President and the Foreign Relations Committee on the meaning of any PLO “acceptance.”
Linowitz observed that “Unless they (the PLO) comply, there is no reason at all to modify our position.” He stressed, however, that “our policy regarding the Palestinians must be differentiated from the PLO.”
Regarding Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Linowitz said the U.S. government “has been concerned about the impact of the proliferation of settlements because of the adverse affect it has on the autonomy negotiations.” He said that the Carter Administration” understands the great concern for Israel’s security” in relation to the settlements but “Israel ought to see very carefully and with great sensitivity” the impact of the settlements on the negotiations.
Linowitz stressed that “a strong, secure Israel does serve our interests in that part of the world” and “it serves our interests well for Israel to be safe and secure ” as it is the only democratic country in the Middle East.
Except for the reservations expressed by Helms, the other Senators present supported Linowitz’s confirmation. They included Javits, Claiborne Pell.(D.R.I.); Charles Percy (R. III.); S.I. Hayakawa(R.Calif.); Edmund Muskie (D.Me.); Richard Stone (D.Fla.); and Edward Zorinsky (D.Neb.).
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