The Senate was mired in debate today over the stationing of up to 200 American civilian technicians in a surveillance role in Sinai but was expected nevertheless to vote on the issue by late tomorrow. The House, meanwhile voted 341-69 last night in favor of a joint resolution approving the technicians but specifying that approval did not commit the United States to any other assurances or undertakings to Egypt or Israel.
Despite overwhelming sentiment in the Senate for approval of the American presence is Sinai, Legislative problems loomed that could possibly delay final action on the matter for two weeks or more. Nevertheless, the Senate made progress this morning when it approved by voice vote an amendment by Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D.Minn.) incorporating the House disclaimer of any additional power beyond the War Powers Act which allows the President to intervene with military forces overseas on a limited basis.
At the same time, the Senate rejected an amendment by Sen, James Abourezk (D.SD), an opponent of the Sinai presence, that would have barred the President from using American forces or equipment to protect the American technicians in Sinai. Abourezk is one of a number of Senators who are insisting that the Senate consider the matter of technicians and assurances to Egypt and Israel by the Ford Administration as a single package tantamount to a treaty which would require a two-thirds vote by the Senate to become effective.
In addition, a dozen other Senators asked for time to discuss the issues. As the situation appeared today, sufficient votes are available to defeat all amendments and for adoption of the joint resolution approved by a 5-1 margin in the House. However, any deviation in the Senate from the House version would require the measure to go before a joint Senate-House conference committee.
The conference committee would be unable to take any action until after the 10-day Columbus Day recess which was originally scheduled to begin at the close of business today. The Senate decided to delay the recess until it acts on the Sinai accord and the House is also prepared to remain in session tomorrow to await the Senate’s action.
STIPULATIONS IN HOUSE RESOLUTION
Capitol Hill legislative experts told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that if the Senate changes the House resolution in ways that are not important or significant, the House may act under a unanimous consent rule on the Senate proposals without going through the joint conference procedure. That seemed unlikely, however, as any one of the 69 Representatives who voted against the Sinai presence last night could stifle unanimous consent.
The joint resolution adopted by both chambers would have the force of law and must be signed by the President. The resolution adopted by the House specified that its approval of the technicians in Sinai “does not signify approval of the Congress of any other agreement, undertaking or commitment made by the Executive branch,” The practical meaning of that passage is that the Administration’s undertakings to Cairo and Jerusalem are, in the view of Congress, only “intentions” of President Ford alone and are “not binding” on the U.S. as a country.
Furthermore, the undertakings by the Administration are interpreted by at least some Senators as meaning that the President’s intentions are his to carry out if he wills, but not binding on his successors. Thus, It would appear that as long as President Ford is in office he is responsible for trying to put through the undertakings made by him through Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, including the 16-point memorandum with Israel that concerns oil, defense equipment and diplomatic support.
Any commitment involving American personnel, services, finance or materials to a foreign power must first be approved by Congress before it can be effected, the JTA was told. The undertakings by Ford and Kissinger will be presented to Congress in one form or another in the coming weeks, mainly in the foreign aid program for Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
That program has been delayed since last March when the President ordered a reassessment of American policy in the Middle East. The reassessment was widely regarded as directed against Israel because of its refusal at that time to accept the formula for withdrawal contained in the Sinai accord.
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.
