This Copy For

NEWS CONFERENCE

#950

AT THE WHITE HOUSE

WITH RON ZIEGLER

AT 11:30 A.M. EST

MARCH 8, 1971

MONDAY

MR. ZIEGLER: The NSC meeting this morning began at 8:30 and lasted until about 10 o'clock.

The President is meeting today with President Shazar of Israel. This is a courtesy call which President Shazar is paying on the President. President Shazar has been in the United States since March 4 for a private visit in connection with Israeli fund-raising and other affairs relating to Jewish activities.

We will have a picture of the meeting when that takes place. It should be scheduled in just a little while.

You have a memorandum from the President to heads of departments and agencies urging them to search for candidates and encouraging their participation in the Education for Public Management Training Program. Through this program, highly qualified Federal employees are selected to spend a year of intensive study at a college or university. I think the release is self-explanatory.

Also, the President has accepted today the resignation of Pete Peterson as a member of the General Advisory Committee of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency effective February 16. Mr. Peterson was appointed to the committee on August 4, 1969.

As many of you know, Mr. Peterson has new duties here at the White House as an Assistant to the President, and this position as Assistant for International Economic Affairs will prevent him from giving the committee the time which this important task demands.

Also, he feels in this new position here at the White House as an Assistant to the President he should step down from this post as a member of the General Advisory Committee of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

The President has accepted the resignation of Pierre du Pont IV as a member of the Air Quality Advisory Board in conformance with a law which prohibits Government officials from serving on the Board. Mr. du Pont was appointed to the Board in October 1970. He is a newly elected United States Representative from Delaware. Therefore, he is resigning from this Board.

Those are all the announcements that we have today. I think Bruce Whelihan has already put on the board the

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have something to say about this.

Q Sir, this is a question purely from
ignorance.

MR. ZIEGLER: I can't guarantee that my answer
won't be on the same basis. (Laughter.)

Q Could you tell us what will be the different
roles of Mr. Peterson and Dr. Kissinger?

MR. ZIEGLER: They are totally different. We
spelled out Mr. Peterson's responsibilities when we announced
him. I would be happy to get you a release of that.

Q But there will be no overlapping there?

MR. ZIEGLER: No overlapping as such, but on some
matters, obviously, on many of the matters that Mr. Peterson
would be involved in, there will be discussion between the
two.

Q Yesterday -- this is something I am just
curious about -- when the President came out from the prayer
service receiving line we were all standing there and some-
body rushed over to talk to the Rabbi and the rest of us were
standing there looking at the President. We would have loved
to have chatted with him. He went on by rather quietly,
like some reporters were working on the Rabbi and he kind
of went on out with Mrs. Nixon by himself. I wonder if
we should have stopped him.

MR. ZIEGLER: Let me say I am enjoying the
conversation I am having with Sarah, but now that the photo
opportunity is down, why don't we proceed with the briefing.
Sarah is asking a question. If you can, settle down back
there, gentlemen. I would appreciate it.

Q This is sort of a trade question. I was just
wondering, as the President came out sort of with Mrs. Nixon
walking quietly along, and two or three reporters were talking
with the Rabbi, the President went on to his quarters and
didn't say anything to us.

Should we have stopped him and asked him a question
there or should we let him go on? I was wondering if the
President thought the reporters were more interested in the
Rabbi than him. I certainly wasn't. But then he goes on
upstairs.

MR. ZIEGLER: Was Bruce Whelihan there?

Q Whelihan was there. Then he comes down and
calls up the UPI later and unburdens his thoughts. It seems
to me it would have been nice if we had all had that unburden-
ing of thought from him.

MR. ZIEGLER: It didn't occur that way yesterday.
Why don't you leave your home phone number here, Sarah?
(Laughter.)

Q What about the prospects of an un-cease-fire
in the Middle East? Have you any comment on that?

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MR. ZIEGLER: I think the President expressed himself on that yesterday. You have seen those remarks that moved on the wire service.

As the President mentioned yesterday, we are cautiously optimistic that the cease-fire conditions will continue and we are hopeful that the dialogue between the parties will continue under the auspices of Ambassador Jarring. I think beyond that the President conveyed a similar point of view to that, as a matter of fact, the exact point of view to that, and expanded on it to some degree in his discussion.

These are, of course, serious exchanges and I don't think it would be helpful for me to comment beyond what I have said or what the President said as we proceed through this delicate process.

Q Ron, Chou En-lai visited Hanoi, according to the wire reports. Did the United States Government know about this? What are the reactions?

MR. ZIEGLER: We, of course, are aware that he visited Hanoi, from the reports. I have no reaction to that.

Q Ron, I don't think you addressed yourself to the first part of Pete's question, which was did you know about it in advance?

MR. ZIEGLER: We are aware of it from the reports which you gentlemen have seen.

Q Will the Rochester date be rescheduled? If so, when?

MR. ZIEGLER: We plan to reschedule the meetings that were set for Rochester in the very near future. I don't have anything to give you on that today.

Q Do you know whether it will be held at Rochester?

MR. ZIEGLER: Very likely. I anticipate it may be. However, we have not rescheduled those meetings at this time.

Q How does your week shape up at this point, Ron? What is ahead?

MR. ZIEGLER: We will probably have the message this week on the special revenue sharing for rural development, and on Thursday the President addresses the Judiciary Conference in Williamsburg.

Q What time is that, Ron?

MR. ZIEGLER: It is in the early afternoon, Bob, around two o'clock or so.

Then on Friday the President will go to Rhode Island to participate in the Convocation of the Officers Candidate School there. We will have more details on the President's schedule for tomorrow at the four o'clock

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Q I don't draw undue significance from anything I hear here. (Laughter.)

MR. ZIEGLER: I look at the questions the same way and I also look at the conversation with Agronsky the same way, too. (Laughter.)

Q Have you a report on the NSC meeting this morning?

MR. ZIEGLER: It lasted from 8:30 until 10 o'clock.

Q Did they discuss the People's Republic of China?

MR. ZIEGLER: The discussion this morning was not on the Middle East. I will come right out and tell you on this occasion. The discussion this morning was on SALT. The SALT talks are due to reconvene soon and the discussion in the NSC was on that subject today.

Q Ron, a Committee of the Senate, the Commerce Committee, held hearings all last week in an attempt to write a bill dealing with campaign expenses, broadcast limitations, the repeal of Section 315, and other matters having to do with the reform of campaign practices.

The Republican National Chairman and the Senate Republican leader were among those who testified, but there is no position from the White House on this matter. The Committee has left its record open until the end of this week, at which time the record will be closed.

Does the White House intend to make its position known in time for it to become a part of the record of this Committee?

MR. ZIEGLER: Our position is, as the President presented it in his statement at the close of the last session of Congress, that the President feels that there should be measures taken in this area. We will be making our position known on that at some point as we move along. We have not addressed it at this point.

I cannot tell you specifically this morning when we will be providing you with further information regarding our position, other than the fact that we do feel steps should be taken, legislative steps should be taken, in this area.

Q What is his position on the repeal of Section 315 of the Communications Act?

MR. ZIEGLER: We will provide that to you when we discuss the entire matter.

Q Do you think that this is likely to come prior to the time that the Senate Committee writes its bill?

MR. ZIEGLER: Again, I am not sure. I just can't say this morning.

Q What about the Russian missile development that Senator Jackson referred to yesterday? Was the

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Department of State

TELEGRAM

UNCLASSIFIED 674

PAGE 01 STATE 040000

84

ORIGIN NEA-15

INFO OCT-01 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05 H-02 INR-08 L-04 NSAE-00
NSC-10 P-03 RSC-01 PRS-01 SS-20 USIA-12 EUR-20 IO-13
ACDA-19 NIC-01 /135 R

66648

DRAFTED BY: NEA/UAR:GSBROWN 3/10/71
APPROVED BY: NEA/UAR=MICHAEL STERNER
USIA=MR. CONGLETON (INFO)
NEA/P=MR. EAVES (PHONE)
S/S=O=BRIMS

P 102045Z MAR 71
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USINT CAIRO PRIORITY

UNCLASS STATE 040000

REF: CAIRO 515

015915

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF MIDDLE EAST PORTION SECRETARY'S TV INTERVIEW
MAR 9 FROM UNOFFICIAL COMMERCIAL SOURCE:

QUOTE: MISS DREW: LET'S GO TO ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD. THE MIDDLE EAST -- HOW DANGEROUS DO YOU NOW THINK THE SITUATION IS, THAT THERE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL CEASE-FIRE?

SECRETARY: WELL, I THINK THAT THE SITUATION HAS BEEN AND IS DANGEROUS IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

Q: IS IT MORE DANGEROUS, NOW THAT THE CEASE-FIRE HAS EXPIRED?

SECRETARY: I THINK PROBABLY IT IS, BECAUSE THERE'S GREATER DANGER OF MISCALCULATION. I THINK THERE IS A RETICENCE ON THE PART OF BOTH SIDES TO RENEW THE HOSTILITIES, AND I THINK BOTH THE SOVIET UNION AND THE UNITED STATES. I KNOW THE UNITED STATES IS EXERCISING RESTRAINT ON THE PARTIES.

UNCLASSIFIED

Department of State

TELEGRAM

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 STATE 040000

Q: IS THE SOVIET UNION ALSO?

SECRETARY: I THINK THERE IS SOME INDICATION THAT THEY ARE, YES. BUT WE CAN'T BE SURE. BUT THERE ALWAYS IS THE DANGER OF MISCALCULATION. AND THAT WOULD BE -- IF THAT HAPPENED, THE SITUATION ITSELF IS SO EXPLOSIVE THAT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS INDEED.

Q. AS I UNDERSTAND THE NEGOTIATIONS AND TRY TO FOLLOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, DO YOU THINK WE'RE -- IT'S NOW AT THE STAGE WHERE IT'S UP TO THE ISRAELIS TO AGREE PUBLICLY TO A VIRTUAL TOTAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THEIR TERRITORIES, SUBJECT TO THESE INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES THAT THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT? IS THAT WHERE WE ARE?

SECRETARY: WELL, I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE POSITION NOW OF PUBLICLY TELLING ISRAEL WHAT I THINK WE'RE -- WHAT I THINK THEY SHOULD DO. WE HAVE MADE OUR POSITION CLEAR IN OUR STATEMENT -- THE ONE THAT I MADE DEC. 9, 1969: THE PRESIDENT MADE HIS POSITION CLEAR IN THE STATE OF THE WORLD MESSAGE. AND THEY COINCIDE, NATURALLY. WE WOULD HOPE THAT ISRAEL WOULD CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE ACTIVELY UNDER AMB. JARRING'S AUSPICES. WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE EGYPTIAN RESPONSE. WE HOPE THAT IF THE PARTIES DO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH THAT THERE IS A CHANCE THAT A SETTLEMENT CAN BE WORKED OUT. WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL WE CAN BEHIND THE SCENES TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTIES TO BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT.

Q: I GUESS YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT "BEHIND THE SCENES ENCOURAGEMENT" WOULD BE. COULD YOU -- CAN YOU GIVE US A HINT?

SECRETARY: WELL, I CAN GIVE YOU SOME IDEA. WE'RE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH ALL THE NATIONS IN THE AREA. WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH AMB. JARRING. WE HAVE INDICATED THAT THE UNITED STATES IS WILLING TO PLAY A RESPONSIBLE AND COOPERATIVE ROLE IN PEACEKEEPING. THAT MEANS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS WILLING TO TAKE PART IN PEACEKEEPING ROLE IN THAT AREA -- UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS AUSPICES. NOW, WE THINK THAT THAT ALONE IS A VERY ADEQUATE GUARANTEE FOR PEACE. WE DON'T THINK OF THAT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR AN AGREEMENT, BUT WE THINK OF IT AS A SUPPLEMENT, SUPPORTIVE OF AN AGREEMENT. AND WE'RE WILLING TO PLAY OUR PART.

Q: WHAT SORT OF AN INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEE WOULD THIS BE -- ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE OR A US-SOVIET FORCE, OR A -- WHAT WOULD IT BE?

UNCLASSIFIED