Senators Ask Ford to Meet with Them to Discuss Foreign Aid Measure

Three Senators favoring additional U.S. government economic support for Israel and ceilings on exports of American arms a broad have asked President Ford to meet with them before he finally decides whether to approve or veto the foreign aid authorization measure on his desk.

However, a feeling persists at the Capitol that while the President will accept the request for a meeting he has already made up his mind against the measure and will announce it within the next few days. He has until the end of the week to announce his decision. The meeting, if held, will not be before tomorrow as the President is campaigning in the Presidential primary in Indiana today.

Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D. Minn.). Clifford Case (R.NJ) and Jacob K. Javits (R.NY), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote Ford asking for the meeting last Thursday, the day after the Senate and House passed the authorization bill adopted by a conference committee of both houses.

The President had indicated, through Republican Congressional leaders in a surprise move only 48 hours earlier that he opposed the bill because of six of its provisions that include limiting U.S. arms sales to $9 billion a year and giving-Congress authority to block sales of weapons by American companies that exceed $25 million in value.

CONGRESS DELAYING ACTION

Ford had previously indicated he would veto an appropriations bill that would provide funds for Israel. Egypt. Syria, Jordan and 50 other countries during the transitional quarter between the current and new fiscal years.

Pending a decision on the authorization bill. Congress is delaying action on the House-Senate conference bill on appropriations to fund the for eign aid program as spelled out in the authorization measure. The House members in the conference voted 7-6 to oppose the Senate formula favoring the funding.