Ford Urged to Exert U.S. Influence on Reversing Unesco’s Politicalization

The U.S. Advisory Commission on International Educational and Cultural Affairs has asked President Ford to “exert this country’s influence in UNESCO” to reverse its politicalization “and to guarantee in the future its concentration on its basic objectives.” The resolution adopted by the eight-member Advisory Commission and submitted to the President, supported the Congressional ban on U.S. funds for UNESCO because of its anti-Israel acts in Paris last year which suspended UNESCO aid for projects in Israel and barred Israel from its regional groupings.

Those actions “seriously crowded the confidence in UNESCO of U.S. individuals and organizations involved in international education and cultural affairs,” the resolution stated. It asked the President to have the U.S. work closely with UNESCO officials and representatives of member states “to correct its recent actions of a primarily political character.” The Advisory Commission is headed by Leonard H. Marks, former director of the U.S. Information Agency.

ONE-SIDED TREATMENT OF EXCAVATIONS

UNESCO’s accusations that Israel was illegally altering the character of Jerusalem by archaeological excavations and new construction was severely criticized by Dillon Riply, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

Writing in the March issue of the Smithsonian magazine, Riply noted that the issue of excavations in Jerusalem “did not arise when cemeteries were destroyed in 1948,” an apparent reference to Jordanian vandalism against Jewish cemeteries when they captured the Old City of Jerusalem. Riply added that “If the Arabs exclude Israel’s participation in UNESCO on cultural grounds, the entire future of truth in international cultural and natural heritage is in jeopardy.”

PONDER AID FOR EGYPTIAN TEMPLE

Meanwhile, a House Appropriations Committee subcommittee is pondering whether to supply the Smithsonian Institution with about $10 million it has requested to help Egypt move the Isis Temple on the Nile out of range of potential flood waters. The project was being handled by UNESCO but was dropped by it after the Congressional out-off of U.S. funds.

Although Egypt was an instigator and participant in UNESCO’s anti-Israel actions, Rep. Sidney Yates (D. III.), the subcommittee chairman, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that it does not appear “improper” for the U.S. to grant funds to the Smithsonian which, he said, has been involved in the Temple project for about five years. He denied that the effort to supply the funds constituted an “end run ” by government critics of the Congressional ban on UNESCO.