White House Says Johnson Will Continue Kennedy Policy of Aid to Egypt

The White House, in its first public expression on Near East policy since Lyndon B. Johnson became President, indicated today that there will be continuity of President Kennedy’s last expressed views on the continuation of American aid to the United Arab Republic.

Myer Feldman, White House Deputy Special Counsel, wrote to Daniel Neal Heller, national commander of the Jewish War Veterans, recalling the Kennedy statements in connection with the new amendment adopted by Congress on the severance of aid to the UAR. Mr. Heller had written President Kennedy on Nov. 15, urging that the amendment be implemented. Mr. Feldman today informed Mr. Heller that “I have brought the letter to the attention of President Johnson.” The amendment called on the President to either sever aid to nations–like the UAR–which practice or prepare for aggression, or certify to Congress that he has found such nations deserving of continued aid.

Mr. Feldman recalled that President Kennedy pointed out that this amendment would “seriously restrict our flexibility in dealing with the UAR.” Mr. Kennedy had “stressed that the President bears particular responsibilities in the field of foreign policy and that, in carrying out these responsibilities, account must be taken of the fact that the world is constantly changing. Legislative restraints could deny the President the flexibility essential for coping with such changes and impair the effectiveness of quiet diplomatic efforts to influence developments in a constructive manner.” Mr. Feldman added that “President Johnson has made the continuity of United States policy abundantly clear, both to the American public and to foreign governments.”