Kissinger Warns U.S. Will Take ‘definite and Severe Action’ if Israel is Expelled from the UN

Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger warned in Helsinki today that “the United States will take definite and severe action” if the United Nations expels or suspends Israel, a move the U.S. would consider in violation of the UN Charter. “What this action would be is inappropriate for me to say but such action would” produce “serious consequences for the world organization,” Kissinger declared at a press conference in the Finnish capital this morning.

The Secretary’s remarks, on the second day of the European Conference on Security and Cooperation, were piped into the State Department for the benefit of reporters here. He reiterated that “the U.S. has expressed its very strong opposition to either the expulsion or suspension of Israel from the UN” and “objects to this on grounds that it is in violation of the Charter.” Kissinger said the American position was fully shared by its Western European allies.

Kissinger reported that at a four-power luncheon meeting in Helsinki today attended by the representatives of the U.S., Britain, France and West Germany, “with respect to the UN each country stated its view that it would oppose the expulsion or suspension of Israel from the UN or the expulsion or suspension of any country.” However, Kissinger added, “no conclusions were reached as to the particular measures that would be taken” by each of the four powers.”

He said the four-power meeting also included “a discussion of the Middle East and prospects for negotiations as well as the positions these various countries might take with respect to issues before the UN. On these subjects we will have to have a further exchange of views.” Kissinger disclosed that the Middle East was also discussed at a meeting today attended by President Ford and himself with the leaders of several other countries, including Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Turkey. He did not elaborate on the discussions at that meeting.