State Dept. Decides to Ignore Congress Recommendation on Suez Issue

The State Department today made known that while it disapproves the Arab blockade and boycott affecting Israel, a decision has been made–on advice of United States diplomats in Arab states–for “the avoidance of coercive tactics” to achieve Arab compliance with international law. This was revealed by John S. Hoghland 2nd, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations, in a letter to Sen. Kenneth B. Keating, New York Republican.

Commenting on a Mutual Security amendment adopted last year by the Senate, calling for the linkage of U.S. aid with respect by recipients for freedom of navigation and termination of blockades and boycotts like that enforced by the Arab states against Israel and American shipping trading with Israel, Mr. Hoghland indicated that the State Department had decided not to enforce the amendment. The amendment was not a law but expressed the “sense of the Senate” in calling on the Executive Department to take action.

Mr. Hoghland said that “based on views from our field posts, the Department has so far concluded that efforts to link the Mutual Security Act directly to the Suez transit question would only intensify the very trade and transit restrictions which we all hope may be eliminated, while at the same time playing into the hands of the Communists by exacerbating Middle East tensions.”

“It remains our view, unanimously supported by our field posts, that avoidance of coercive tactics in such area disputes is more likely to produce an atmosphere conducive to settlement of the basic problem than would unilateral economic pressure by the United States,” the State Department official stressed.

Mr. Hoghland said the Department shared “concern that every effort should be made to ensure that there be no discrimination in the use of the Suez Canal for Israeli commerce.” He added that the U.S. would “continue to take all appropriate steps to facilitate a resolution of this complex issue.”

EXPLAINS U.S. POLICY ON NASSER’S CLOSING OF SUEZ CANAL FOR ISRAEL

When the State Department notified its diplomats in Arab states of the Senate amendment, “our field posts have stressed that linking the transit and boycott questions directly with assistance under the Mutual Security Act would adversely affect over-all United States interests without advancing the principles and purposes of the amendment,” Mr. Hoghland wrote. Notwithstanding these opinions, the State Department “has carefully weighed” how the amendment “might best be applied on each occasion when proposals for significant new assistance were up for consideration,” he indicated, adding however, that the Department in each case based its policy on the views of the U. S. diplomats in Arab states and decided not to implement the amendment.

“The United States has consistently supported the principle of freedom of transit through the Suez Canal for all nations, including Israel,” the State Department official continued. “This support has been made clear both in public statements and in diplomatic exchanges with the states directly concerned. Accordingly, when the section, which recorded the sense of the Senate to this same effect, was included last year in the Mutual Security Act, as amended, our diplomatic posts throughout the world were promptly informed.

“They were specifically reminded of the Department’s long-standing policy in favor of freedom of navigation through international waterways, including in particular the Suez Canal. They were reminded that efforts should continue to be made through every appropriate means and at every suitable opportunity to make clear the will of the American Government and people. These standing instructions have on appropriate occasions since that time specifically been renewed,” the State Department official emphasized.

Senator Keating, commenting on the Department’s letter, cited President Kennedy’s pledge to implement the amendment and said: “If the President has changed his policy since his announcement last summer, Congress must seek new means to guarantee freedom of the seas when the Mutual Security bill is considered this year.

“We must not let this matter die,” Senator Keating continued. He said he was “disappointed to learn the State Department appears determined not to carry out the will of Congress as expressed in the freedom of the seas amendment.” He found it “distressing” that the Secretary of State “apparently does not stand back of the explicit written promise made by the President” and called on Mr. Kennedy to insist that the State Department follow his announced policy on this issue.