Symington Calls Failure to Sell More Jets to Israel a ‘historical Crime’

Sen. Stuart Symington told the Senate today that United States failure to sell more jets to Israel immediately would constitute a “historical crime.” The Missouri Democrat, a high-ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee pointed to what he called a “strong paradox in American foreign military policy,” namely that “We support a newly tried and unformed government in Cambodia, but at the same time have…refused to sell vitally needed arms to Israel.” It was assumed that Sen. Symington was referring specifically to the current, continuing Israeli request for additional jets. “It has never been clear,” Mr. Symington continued, “why we have been willing to give arms to Arab states while we have not been willing to sell arms to Israel.” Calling Israel “one of our very few really stable friends in the Middle East,” the Senator asked, “If we adopt a policy of maintaining a weak Israel, will this not in turn be interpreted as a weak American posture?” He added that additional military aid to Israel would also prevent the Soviet Union from destroying that state and taking control of the Mideast. (In London, Foreign Secretary Michael Stewart said today that the British government was “deeply concerned” by Israeli reports that Russian pilots are flying missions in Egyptian planes and is “urgently examining the prevailing situation in light of this statement.” Speaking in reply to a question in the House of Commons, Mr. Stewart said, “At present United Nations action is being handled by the Four Powers and I believe that this is right.” Former Foreign Secretary George Brown said what was happening was “a great propaganda war.” Prime Minister Harold Wilson said today that he had “no plans” to invite President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt to visit him. Mr. Wilson was asked by Conservative MP Neil Martin whether he had such plans.)