Four Congressmen Urge Congress to Boycott Pres. Pompidou on Mis Visit to U.S.

Representative Bertram L, Podell of New York, New York Congressmen Frank J. Brasco and Mario Biaggi, and Representative Roman Pucinski of Illinois, sent a Jointly signed “Dear Colleague” letter to members of Congress urging them to boycott a planned Joint Session of Congress for French President Georges Pompidou. The letter charged that France has inflamed Middle East tensions and displayed contempt for U.S.-Israel lion by supplying arms and aircraft to the “radical Arab” cause. “We have mixed feelings about protesting against a President of France,” the Congressmen said. “But the policies of France under President Pompidou in trying to frustrate U.S. attempts in her peace efforts is such that we do not feel we can participate in any homage rendered to him by this Congress.” Representative Podell first asked congressional leaders not to call a special Joint session for President Pompidou in a statement on Jan. 22. He made this request after returning from Paris with other members of Congress where, the reported, they had been received inhospitably by the Pompidou government.