U.S. to Press General Assembly to Discuss Issue of Terrorism

Jacob Stein, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, indicated here yesterday that the US government will demand to have the issue of terrorism discussed in the UN General Assembly and oppose having it pigeonholed in a UN committee. “I am confident,” Stein said, “that our government will not be sidetracked by parliamentary maneuvers in the United Nations to defer positive action on this issue of world concern and it will pursue energetically a course seeking the support of all concerned nations.”

Stein made his comment to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency after he was apprised that, apparently in deference to the desire of African, Arab and Communist delegations, UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim proposed that the item on terrorism be discussed in the General Assembly’s legal committee rather than in the plenary body where it would get maximum public attention. It is possible, however, that the Assembly’s steering committee may not put it on the final agenda at all.

Accompanied by members of a special committee of the Presidents Conference named to act on the terrorism issue, Stein spent more than an hour at the State Department with Joseph J. Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs. Stein had asked for the session to discuss the issue. Actions undertaken by the US government were outlined by Sisco as a part of the developing program to combat terror, Stein said afterwards. He added: “I was heartened and encouraged by the firm commitment of our government to use every possible avenue of international cooperation to stamp out these acts of murder.”