Truman Recommends Aid to Israel in His Message to Congress

President Truman today said in his message to Congress that he has recommended economic and technical assistance to the Near Eastern area, including Israel, and help for the Arab refugees, for a totals of $196,000,000.

In his message on the distribution of Mutual Security funds, the President told of the importance of aiding the Near East. He suggested development projects in various countries of the area. In enumerating ways in which America could aid, he said: “We can help build roads and establish public health services in Israel.”

“The Near East presents a sharp challenge to American statesmanship,” President Truman declared. “The countries of these areas are of vital importance to the security of the free world, but the problems of achieving constructive and orderly development are extremely difficulty.” He pointed out that “most of these problems can be solved by the people of these areas finding ways to make solid progress in developing economic strength and effective free institutions. But we can and must help them.”

No figures are available on an exact breakdown to indicate how much is proposed for Israel, other than the assurance that the Jewish State will share in the help for the area as a whole. Aid for Israel in the Mutual Security Act of 1952 may total as much as $80,000,000, but it is not possible to secure confirmation of this estimate at the present time.

A spokesman for the Mutual Security Administration said today that the exact amount of aid proposed for Israel, as well as for other countries, cannot be made known because of “security reasons. ” It is expected that the amount will be submitted to the appropriate committees of Congress in executive session.