U.S. to Reduce Aid to Nations Which Opposed the U.S. on Issue at the UN

The State Department has indicated that the United States will reduce assistant to those nations which have opposed the U.S. on issues at the United Nations. Responding to a report that Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger had formally initiated such a policy, the State Department said Friday, without confirming the report explicitly, that “obviously our actions toward other countries are based on their actions toward us.”

Spokesman Robert Funseth also said that this is a “diplomatic practice followed by this country as well as by other countries. Obviously, how a country votes is an action.” He noted, however, that he was unaware of any changes in the foreign assistance program that the State Department had submitted for the current year a $4.4 billion program.

Funseth added that since the program has not yet been adopted by the Congress, it was possible changes may take place in it. According to published reports, Kissinger has already decided to defer assistance to Tanzania because of its vote in the UN General Assembly to oppose the Ford Administration’s position on Korea and because it voted for the anti-Zionist resolution.

On the other hand, countries such as Malawi and the Ivory Coast. which have backed U.S. positions in the UN, are understood to be given additional assistance. Votes in the UN which went contrary to U.S. interests concerned Korea, the call of independence for Puerto Rico, the demand for removal of American bases in Guam and Zionism. When a reporter asked Funseth whether the anti-Zionist resolution could be considered an action against U.S. interest. Funseth replied, “Our attitude was made clear on this resolution” and, he added, regarding the vote, “we regret it very much.”

In relation to attitudes in Congress, the House International Relations Committee last month asked President Ford to provide a report in 90 days that would justify assistance to those countries which favored the anti-Zionist resolution. Funseth said he was unaware whether that report has been completed.

The return of Congress Jan. 18 from its year-end recess is expected to bring about a clarification of the Administration’s position on the aspects of aiding countries consistently in opposition to the U.S. The foreign aid programs have yet to run the gauntlet of both authorization and appropriation legislation. In this process, specific policy is expected to be formulated by the Administration for Congressional approval.