CONTENTS Page Bragg, Dr. Raymond B., chairman of the Kansas City Chapter of the American-Christian-Palestine Committee, Kansas City, Mo.-- Cockrell, Ewing, president, United States Federation of Justice, and Davis, Mrs. Dwight, president, Kansas City League of Women Voters, 305 Sheskin, Harry, attorney, regional president, Zionist Organization of America; chairman, Zionist Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas Taylor, Rev. Thurston, Board of Christian Social Relations of the Southwest Wasserstrom, Mrs. Solbert M., participant and representative of the American Association of University Women in an informal referendum, 253 265 Amick, James E., C. L. U., Kansas City, Mo. Dowgray, Dr. John G. L., Jr., on behalf of the participants in the study- discussion group, World Affairs Are Your Affairs, sponsored by the Continuing Education Center, the University of Kansas City, evening BUILDING A WORLD OF FREE PEOPLES MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1957 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The subcommittee met at 9 a. m., in the Jackson County Court House, Hon. A. S. J. Carnahan (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present, in addition to Representative Carnahan, of Missouri, chairman of the subcommittee: Representative L. H. Fountain of North Carolina, Representative Chester E. Merrow of New Hampshire and Representative Karl M. LeCompte of Iowa, members of the Subcommittee on International Organizations and Movements; also Representative Brooks Hays of Arkansas and Representative D. S. Saund of California, members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Representative George H. Christopher, a Member of Congress from Missouri. Mr. CAPNAHAN. The committee will come to order. This is a Subcommittee on International Organizations and Movements of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States House of Representatives. We are in Kansas City this morning to hear witnesses from this section in connection with foreign policy, and we are particularly interested in the mutual security program or the foreign aid program. I will not take further time but will get immediately into the hearing of the witnesses. Our first witness this morning is Dr. Raymond Bragg. Dr. Bragg. For the record, if you do not have it in your prepared statement, would you give us a very brief statement of your personal background? STATEMENT OF DR. RAYMOND B. BRAGG, CHAIRMAN OF THE KANSAS CITY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CHRISTIANPALESTINE COMMITTEE, KANSAS CITY, MO. Dr. BRAGG. I am presently the minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in Kansas City. I was educated at Brown University and the University of Chicago, two foreign universities, both German. I have been the executive director of the Unitarian Service Committee which carries on a humanitarian service program across the world. I am speaking in this instance as the chairman of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Christian-Palestine Committee. 243 Mr. CARNAHAN. You may proceed. Dr. BRAGG. The peoples of the Near East-Moslem, Jew and Christian remain in urgent need of social and economic assistance. Dire problems of health, food, and housing are no respecters of boundaries, and their solution must likewise transcend national jealousies and political disputes. Vitally needed regional cooperation in combating the age-old enemies, poverty, ignorance and disease, goes by default. In the Near East the American people view an area in tumult. Internal tensions combined with government instability and economic discontent prepare the victory for international communism without a single shot having to be fired by the Soviet Union. The Eisenhower doctrine affords a shield against international communism. It is designed, however, to meet only the ultimate emergency, and at a point and a time when the cost for the American people may well be enormous. A policy of "too much, too late" is ruinous when a comparative little now might secure us against untold future sacrifices. WITH RESPECT TO THE THREAT FROM INTERNATIONAL COMMUNISM In order that the Near East may be most effectively protected against the immediate threat from international communism and so that the American people may be relieved of the burden of unilateral responsibility for this effort, the free world must be a united one and share in the challenging tasks of bringing hope and freedom to the area. The power and prestige of Great Britain and France are still considerable, in the Near East as well as in other areas of the world. It is therefore recommended that the United States Government: First, work toward restoring to their former vigor traditional measures of cooperation in the Near East with Great Britain, France, and other Western allies, sharing with them the task of defending the Near East against Soviet aggression; Second, anchor its defense strategy in the Near East to positions of genuine strength in the area, these being principally Greece, Turkey, Iran, Israel, and possibly Iraq, who alone have so far shown both the determination and the capacity to preserve their national heritage. At a later stage, when other Arab States have demonstrated a similar determination and capacity, these may also be included in area defense plans. WITH RESPECT TO THE ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT Of equal immediate significance in strengthening the Near East's defenses is the resolution of the outstanding tensions of the area. Paramount among these tensions is the Arab-Israel conflict, whose division impact continues to frustrate the fulfillment of United States policy objectives in the Near East. Here only the most resolute leadership by the Administration will succeed in bringing to a halt the hostile pressures which the Arab states are directing against Israel in both the United Nations and Near East. Only direct Arab-Israeli negotiations can lay the groundwork for a permanent settlement of outstanding issues. The United States should not discriminate as between Israel and Egypt with respect to their obligations to the United Nations and to each other. Egypt must be required to accept the principles of free navigation and nonbelligerency, in accordance with the Security Council decision of 1951. There should be no double standard in international morality for the United States. Any other course should be unthinkable for this Government. Indeed, our energies should be directed rather at opening the door to negotiations between Egypt and Israel. It is therefore recommended that the United States Government: First, strive both within and outside the United Nations for mutual compliance by Israel and Egypt with their obligations to the United Nations and to each other. Second, support without further delay the beginning of direct peace negotiations between the Arab states and Israel. Third, grant unequivocal and immediate assurance to Israel and all other nations that their right of innocent passage through the Gulf of Aqaba will be protected. Fourth, once the guaranty on Aqaba has been given, urge an effective United Nations military occupation of the Gaza strip until the future of the area has been settled by negotiation between Israel and Egypt. Fifth, secure the freedom of access by all nations, including Israel, to the Suez Canal. WITH RESPECT TO NEAR EAST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Over a period of time the peoples of the Near East will have their independence best assured, as well as their well-being most fruitfully advanced, through the economic and social development of the region. In recognition, therefore, of the need for an affirmative and constructive program which will capture the imagination of the nations of the Near East, Be it further recommended that the United States GovernmentFirst, make available, both unilaterally and through the United Nations, the economic aid and technical assistance needed to overcome the scourges of ignorance, poverty and disease endured now with increasing impatience by the peoples of the area. Second, base such assistance wherever possible on the principle of regional cooperation, whereby assistance is rendered to such large scale projects as the Jordan River plan, the Tigris-Euphrates development, the "master plan" for the Nile River and whereby the cooperative efforts of all peoples of the region will be of equal benefit to all. Mr. CARNAHAN. Dr. Bragg, we appreciate your coming before the committee and sharing with us your experiences. I suggested to the members of the committee that we allow approximately 15 minutes to each witness. We have quite a few witnesses today, and we will go around with the questioning as far as we can get within the 15-minute period. If we don't get all the way around, we will take up where we left off with the next witness. Dr. Bragg, in your statement you say that we could perhaps spend comparatively little now which might secure us against untold future sacrifices. Would you care to elaborate just a little further on that? Dr. BRAGG. I think that our group was very apprehensive as to the possibility of a World War being generated in the present conflicts of the Near East, and that any investment of treasure in the Middle |