Representative Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat, and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said today he would demand “concrete verification” of Egypt’s reported commitment not to increase cotton acreage in the 1966-67 season. He made the statement in connection with reports that the Nasser regime informed the State Department that, in order to qualify for continued U.S. food aid it would restrict cotton production to allow for the growing of more food. The development arose because of charges that Egypt was trading cotton for Soviet arms, with the United States indirectly subsidizing such deals by filling Egypt’s food shortages.
Farbstein said Nasser had in the past violated similar agreements to restrict cotton production and increase food production. The Congressman said that an opportunity for review of the Egyptian performance will come with renewal of the United States food agreement, which is subject to renegotiation every six months.
Mr. Farbstein said that, while he favored food for the hungry of Egypt, “it is absurd to indirectly subsidize the Egyptian capacity to barter for Soviet arms, thus escalating tensions and dangers in the Near East. ” He said that restriction of Egyptian arms acquisitions would, if it actually took place, have a salutory effect in the region. He added, however, that he would request verification of the Egyptian agricultural performance at the end of each six month period.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
