TEXT OF HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 337 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That (a) the Congress objects to the proposed sale to Jordan of the Hawk missile system, such proposed sale being described in the statement submitted by the President, pursuant to section 36(b) of the Foreign Military Sales Act, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on July 10, 1975 (transmittal numbered 75-40). (b) The Congress objects to the proposed sale to Jordan of the Vulcan antiaircraft system, such proposed sale being described in the statement submitted by the President, pursuant to section 36(b) of the Foreign Military Sales Act, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on July 10, 1975 (transmittal numbered 75–35). (116) ARTICLE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES DATED JULY 11, 1975, "HUSSEIN SAYS JORDAN WILL PROTECT SYRIA" BY JUAN DE ONIS BEIRUT, LEBANON, July 10.-King Hussein of Jordan said today that he was buying sophisticated American weapons for his armed forces to defend Syria against any flanking attack by Israel through Jordanian territory. In an interview published here by Al Hawadess, the most widely circulated weekly magazine in the Arab world, King Hussein also hinted that he might allow Palestinian guerrillas to pass through Jordan to the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the Jordan River if they did not return to Jordan as a sanctuary. King Hussein appeared to be seeking to restore his position in the Arab world by presenting Jordan as a bastion against Israel and a supporter of Palestinian aspirations to recover their homeland. RECONCILIATION REPORTED The interview coincided with a front-page article in a pro-Palestinian newspaper, Al Moharrer, reporting that Syrian mediation has produced a reconciliation formula between Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization. According to this report, which was partly confirmed by Arab diplomatic sources, the guerrillas would be allowed to establish bases near Irbid, Salt and the Jordan River Valley "provided they do not carry out any activity against Israel." The report said the guerrillas would be under the command of the Palestine Liberation Army, which has a unit of about 5,000 men stationed in Jordan under the command of the Jordanian Army. It has been inactive against Israel. The Al Moharrer report implied that the Palestinian guerrillas would be permitted into Jordan under tight control as a purely defensive force, to act in coordination with the Jordanian military against any Israeli attack. King Hussein gave a different interpretation, however, to what Palestinian guerrilla activity could be. He said: The point of difference between us and the P.L.O. lies in the concept of revolutionary action. We believe that the revolution should be within occupied territory. But for them to enter, carry out operations and then return would bring dangers, the most important of which is allowing Israel to choose the time and place for the battle. If, however, they want to enter [occupied areas] and stay, there is something no one rejects or wants to stop. BUYING MODERN WEAPONS King Hussein said that his armed forces were being modernized, largely with United States equipment. He referred to a purchase of a United States made Hawk missile system to provide air defense, and the acquisition of 60 F-5 jet fighters equipped with missiles. King Hussein said he was also buying helicopter troop carriers and was increasing the mobility of his armored forces. A new Middle East war, he said, would not be one of trenches but of mobility. King Hussein, who has developed close contacts lately with President Hafez al Assad of Syria, said that in a new war Israel might try to encircle Syria by a thrust to the east through northern Jordan. He also said the Israelis might try to reach the Moslem holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia to use them for bargaining over Jerusalem. Arab oil fields in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait might also be a target, he said. Any such attacks, which would have to pass through Jordan, would be met with "a quick, firm and strong retaliation" by the Jordanian armed forces, the King said. TELEGRAM TO HON. JONATHAN B. BINGHAM FROM JUDGE PAUL RIBNER, NATIONAL COMMANDER, JEWISH WAR VETERANS, U.S.A. DATED JULY 14, 1975, REGARDING APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS BY CONGRESS TO DISAPPROVE PROPOSED SALE OF AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM TO JORDAN Representative JONATHAN B. BINGHAM: On behalf of our entire membership we wish to thank you for your prompt action in presenting a resolution of disapproval to the administration's proposed sale of an air defense system to Jordan. We feel a sale of this magnitude will effectively result in a change in the balance of power in the Middle East making the Arab states more difficult in accepting a justifiable peace proposal. We are strongly opposed to this sale as being against the best interest of the United States of America. If necessary I would be more than willing to appear in person on behalf of our organization as a witness for your resolution of disapproval. Judge PAUL RIBNER, National Commander, Jewish War Veterans, U.S.A. (118) LETTER TO HON. DANTE B. FASCELL FROM DR. M. T. MEHDI, SECRETARY GENERAL, THE ACTION COMMITTEE ON AMERICAN-ARAB RELATIONS, DATED JULY 15, 1975, REGARDING OPPOSITION OF SALE OF U.S. MILITARY SUPPLIES TO JORDAN AND ALL ARAB STATES Congressman DANTE FASCELL, July 15, 1975. Chairman, Subcommittee on International Political and Military Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN FASCELL: We wish to appear before the Subcommittee and express our opposition to the sale of U.S. military supplies to Jordan and indeed to all the Arab states. We are also opposed to the sale of American arms to Israel. It is morally wrong for the United States to become the merchant of death in the Middle East, supplying mortal enemies with weapon. The Communism's charge that unscrupulous Capitalism is only concerned with the profit motives becomes a valid charge in the light of this sale to Jordan. Opposed as we are to giving military aid to Israel, it is still better to give aid only to Israel than to Israel and the Arab states at the same time. The road to peace in the Middle East is through disarmament, not through arming the Israelis now and the Arabs later. We support Congressman Jonathan Bingham's opposition to the sale of arms to Jordan. We are opposed one hundred per cent to the sale of all arms to all the Middle East countries. Sincerely, 57-645 759 (119) M. T. MEHDI. ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY THE FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION (FCNL) WASHINGTON NEWSLETTER DATED JULY, 1975 ENTITLED, "WHAT KIND OF 'COMMITMENTS' FOR AMERICA?" NOTE Countries are grouped according to administrative units and command structure of the U.S. Dept. of Defense. Columns do not add because of (120) |