Rep. John Taber, New York Republican and chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, levelled sharp criticism at Israeli leaders during hearings on Foreign Aid Legislation, it was learned today when the official transcript was made public.
Rep. Taber said: “The heads of the state were every bumptious and cantankerous so far as the United States goes, .when some folks in this committee stooped in Israel.” Director Harold E. Stasses of the Foreign Operations. Administration sought to defend Israel from Mr. Tabe’rs attack.
The exchange started when Mr. Stassen recommended continued aid to Israel. Rep. Tabers interrupted to ask: “Are those people working in that place?” Mr. Stassen replied: “In Israel, yes; they work hard, They have some difficulty adjusting to framework, but is textile industries which they have put in, and thing like that they work hard and are really an industrious people. They have a tremendous spirit. They are just determined that they are going to make that country succeed.”
When Mr. Stassen praised Israelis spirit and will to succeed, Rep. Taber said you would think if they have that they would have a better attitude to ward a country like the United States which is doing so much for them “Mr. Stassen an answered that, when he visited Israel with Secretary of State Dulles, “the people out on the streets were very friendly. “At this point, Sep. Taber attacked the heads of the Israel government, calling them “bumptious” and “cantankerous.” Mr. Stassen said he was sorry to hear that.
REP. TABER SAYS U.S. MACHINERY FOUND STREWN ON ISRAEL ROAD
Rep. Taber alleged that members of his committee “found all sorts of machinery strewn alongside the roads that had never been used, that had bees sent over there by us I do not known why we sent it.” To this Mr. Stassen replied: “I think that machinery along the roads goes some years back, and was damaged is the war that was fought there. I am not sure which road it was. If we can find out which road it is, we will have it inspects and find out. But if is on the road cross Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, it is a lot of machinery that was damaged in the war, and they palled it off the road and allowed it to rust, as it was not worth repairing.”
Rep. Taber’s criticism of Israel was continued in “off-the-record” discussion deleted from the public transcript. At the end of this secret discussion, Mr. Stassen said: “If anyone goes in and starts to lecture them (the Israelis) on how the Arabs should be treated, be will get some very rough treatment its response. There is nothing that causes them to be more incensed them saving anyone try to tell them what to do about the Arabs. And that goes vice verse. If you go over to an Arab country and tell them they ought to be more friendly to Israel, they will invite you to leave the country. The feeling is very intense.”
In another portion of the bearings, Assistant Secretary of State Henry A. Byroade testified that the U.5. has failed “to better relation between Israel and the Arab sates over the past year,” and that he thought the situation “Very dangerous because the border areas are more tense. “There is a possibility of open hostilities always present in that situation,” be said.
The State Department, Mr. Byroade declared, believes “Russia is trying it appear as the friend and champion of the Arab states. We think her motives are quite different and are just the opposite. We believe she will veto anything that will appear constructive toward decreasing. We a that area.”
Rep. H. Carl Andersen, Minnesota Republican, a ranking committee member supported chairman Taber’s allegations against Israel. He alleged Israel wasted equipment furnished by the United States and permitted land to be taken out of production. Norman S. Paul, regional F. O. A. director, sought to reassure the committee that Israel made proper use of equipment furnished under the U. S. aid program.
Optimism was expressed by Arthur 2, Gardiner, chief politico-economic adviser of the State Department, on the progress of negotiations by Eric Johnston on regional water development. “We think,” he said, “that on most points at issue we found agreement in principal with the Arab states, who are working in a cooperative and constructive endeavor to harness those waters. In the case of the Israelis we also found that Mr. Johnston made great progress in his negotiations.”
“We are more hopeful than we ever were,” he said, “regarding the outcome. And I think it might be possible to reach agreements of such nature, within the next few months* that we can go to work through the United Nations on the Jordan side by the end of the year.”
Rep. Anderson asked Mr. Gardiner if “the attitude of the Israeli Government has changed decidedly since last October. “Mr. Gardiner replied: “definitely, and so has the attitude of the Arab governments.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
