Arthur Z. Gardiner, economic operations adviser of the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs of the State Department, in a statement submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “the promotion of Israel’s political and economic stability and its eventual integration into the Near East area on a sound basis are among the primary objectives of United States foreign policy in the Near East.”
This was made known today when Mr. Gardiner’s statement, on behalf of the State Department, was published by the Senate Committee. Mr. Gardiner said that to carry out American policy “we have consistently sought, both within and outside the framework of the United Nations, to encourage peaceful settlements between Israel and its neighbors, to stimulate economic development and thus to create conditions favorable to the viability and effective defense of the region.
The State Department official described austerity measures taken by Israel and fund-raising efforts in the United States. “In spite of these measures,” he said, “Israel’s financial position has continued to deteriorate. Despite intensive efforts to raise the funds to carry out the minimum investment program required to resettle its refugees, Israel has been unable to find sufficient financial resources to maintain its population, even at austerity levels, while developing a self-sustaining economy.” He recommended aid for Israel through the foreign aid program.
In giving arguments in favor of aid to Israel, Mr. Gardiner said Israel’s army was “exceedingly effective.” He said, too, that “I think the reason that would convince me we should take a step of this nature, or rather continue in this same path that we followed last year, was that they have got an obligation to those European Jewish people who were persecuted by Hitler, who were persecuted by the Russians, and who have found refuge in Palestine, aided and abetted by many American influences, and with the blessing of the American Government.”
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