CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

May 25, 1967

Page 13985

WORLD PEACE THROUGH LAW -- STATEMENT ON MIDDLE EAST

Mr. CLARK. Mr. President, yesterday, the monthly luncheon of the Members of Congress for World Peace Through Law took place in the Capitol. This organization, which now includes 13 Senators and 44 members of the House of Representatives, is naturally very much concerned about the crisis in the Middle East. As a result of the discussions which took place at that luncheon, and in conformity with our policy of not making statements in the name of the organization -- that is to say, the Members of Congress for World Peace Through Law – seven Senators and 24 Members of the House have joined in the following joint statement on the Middle East crisis, which I should like to read into the RECORD.

As members of the United States Congress concerned with the development of strong international institutions within the United Nations to keep the peace, we strongly endorse President Johnson's May 23 statement regarding the Arab-Israeli crisis.

In the language of the President, "We earnestly support all efforts, in and outside the United Nations and through its appropriate organs, including the Secretary General, to reduce tensions and to restore stability."

Specifically, we agree with President Johnson that:

1. We must in the first instance place reliance upon the United Nations to resolve the crisis;

2. The maintenance of peace in the Middle East is a matter of the gravest concern for all nations;

3. As the President said, "a blockade of Israeli shipping is illegal and potentially disastrous to the cause of peace." Therefore, the right of free, innocent passage should be guaranteed to shipping of all nations through the Straits of Tiran; and

4. All of the nations of the Mideast have a special responsibility to moderate their words and actions so as to help to create a climate in which a peaceful resolution of the crisis can be obtained.

We call upon all concerned to exercise their solemn responsibility to the international community in the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations for the development of world order.

I ask unanimous consent that a list of the cosigners of this statement may be printed in the RECORD following the statement I have made.

There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

Endorsing Members of Congress are: SENATORS

Daniel B. Brewster, Edward W. Brooke, Joseph S. Clark, Robert F. Kennedy, Gale W. McGee, Walter F. Mondale, Frank E. Moss, Edmund S. Muskie, Gaylord Nelson. Stephen Young. and Philip Hart.

CONGRESSMEN

Jonathan Bingham, Edward P. Boland, John Brademas, George E. Brown. Jr., Don Edwads, Donald M. Fraser, Jacob H. Gilbert, Gilbert Gude, Seymour Halpern, Henry Helstoski, Robert W. Kastenmeier, William S. Moorhead, Patsy T. Mink. F. Bradford Morse. Richard D. McCarthy, Richard Ottinger, Claude Pepper, Thomas M. Rees, Ogden R. Reid, Joseph Y. Resnick, Henry S. Reuss, George M. Rhodes. Benjamin S. Rosenthal, William F. Ryan, James H. Scheuer, Richard S. Schweiker, Fred Schwengel, William St. Onge, Herbert Tenzer, Morris K. Udall, Charles W. Whalen, Jr., James C. Corman, and Robert L. Leggett.