Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-24

affirmatively concealed from us
their plan to take action which
they knew would seriously affect
our interests in the Middle East.
I have seen no reasonable ex-
PLANTATION of why Great Britain
and France, the two greatest
beneficiaries of our foreign aid
program, should want to deceive
us. Surely the members of this
committee should know what
motivated this unprecedented
action by responsible and friend
ly governments before we are
asked to express our confidence
in the conduct of our foreign
affairs during this period.
"New Burdens" Cited
1t is clear that in fastening
or even permitting, the collapse
of the British influence in the
Middle East, vast new burdens
are to be thrown upon our own
sorely strained budget and upon
our armed services. Already we
read of British plans to with
draw their support of Jordan
of the cancellation of orders for
fighter planes, and of a revival
of talk of withdrawing her troops
from Germany.
In addition to these matters,
I think the committee should DE
informed fully about the course
of our relations with Col. Nasser:
how and why we became involved
in the Aswan Dam project and
what led to the Secretary's abrupt
withdrawal of the offer just as
it was being accepted by Col
Nasser. a procedure calculated
to give the greatest possible of :.
Tense.
Explanations Demanded
This committee should be
given an explanation of why we
failed to obtain any kind of
agreement from Egypt concern
ing the operation of the Suez
Canal. the existence of Israel or
the defense of the area gener-
ally in return for our assistance
in ousting the British. One can
not help wondering why ouI
mediation proved so futile re-
igardlng the interests of the
West.
IN view of the apparent fail
ure of our policy in the Middle
East to create stable and peace
full conditions in that area. and
in view of the serious breach Of
our principal alliances-is it not
sensible for us to try to under
stand how We got in this situa-
ton before we indorse the poll
icies and policy-makers who have
directed these affairs?
1t may be that there are
sound reasons for every action
we have taken. for every policy
we have followed; but l do not
believe the acceptance of such
"a conclusion should be a matter
OF faith. I believe that before
we are required to give, or to
withhold. a vote of confidence
in the stewardship of Secretary
Dulles. we should be given in
formation which would enable
a reasonable man to form a
sound. judgment as to the wis
dom of our policies. past as we'll
as future.
"ImprOvident, Unwise"
AS one member of this COM
mittee, I regard it as impro-
vident and unwise to make a
grant of authority to disburse
large sums Of public money
without restriction of any kind
for detectives which are vague
and unspecified; and by people
who have yet to prove theii
foresight, their wisdom. anc
their effectiveness in the field OF
foreign affairs. The seriousness:
of our present circumstances
according to the Secretary's owr
statement. necessarily raises 9
question as to the validity of oul
policies.
I do not believe, Mr.. Chair
man, that proceeding as we have
by 10 or Commute question peri
DDS, unrelated and uncoordin-
lated, and under an atmosphere
of urgency, we can hope to gair
sufficient understanding of these
affairs to enable us to discharge