The World Health Organization was warned today by a group of influential Congressmen of both parties that any attempt to suspend Israel’s voting privileges or rights to WHO services will lead to a loss of Congressional support for that organization. Six Senators and 45 Representatives cabled Dr. Halfdan Mahler, WHO’s director-general, in Geneva, that any “such political actions” against Israel would “certainly undermine the broad support and confidence which the WHO has enjoyed in the past.”
The Congressmen also pointed out that in the “light of the recent experience with UNESCO” they would not want to see any action which might diminish American support for WHO in Congress. A statement issued by Sen. Clifford P. Case (R. NJ), one of four Senate Foreign Relations Committee members to join in the warning, observed that the committee has delayed action on legislation that would have the U.S. contribute $29.4 million to WHO for the year beginning July 1.
Among the Senators signing the cable were Case, Hubert H, Humphrey (D.Minn.), Henry Jackson (D.Wash.), Gale McGee (D.Mont.) and Richard Schweiker (R.Pa.). Among the Representatives were House Majority Leader Thomas T. O’Neill (D.Mass.), William Broomfield (R.Mich.), Shirley Chisholm (D.NY), Otto Passman (D.La.), Lee Hamilton (D.Ind.), John Anderson (R,Ill.), Philip Burton (D.Calif.), Charles Rangel (D.NY), William Cohen (R.Maine) and Donald Fraser (D.Mont.).
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