Nixon’s bid to restore foreign aid
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-President Nixon has launched an all-out effort to restore the US foreign aid programme virtually killed off by the Senate last night, reports Reuter.
Mr. Nixon consulted with top advisers and senate Republican leaders while the White House re-emphasised the President’s dismay at the Senate’s vote against his multi-million dollar aid bill and strongly urged the Senate to reinstate the aid programme at once.
The Nixon administration’s 2.3 billion dollar military aid programme of which Pakistan is one of the recipients, will not be affected by the Senate’s rejection of the Foreign Aid Bill, it is clear from the welter of reports from Washington, says PTI from New York.
This is because this allocation is part of the defence budget and does not come under the impugned legislation.
Meanwhile hopes are being held out that the allocation of 250 million dollars for refugees from East Bengal will be materially affected by the Senate action.
The Administration is now drawing up a “stop gap” foreign aid programme from the wreckage of the Foreign Aid Bill, the New York Times reported today.
One of the principles to be followed with be to see that humanitarian programme should not be allowed to suffer because of the adverse Senate vote, the newspaper reported.
It is being proposed that the Administration should seek supplemental appropriation of $400 million-$250 million for the East Bengal refugees and $ 150 million for programmes in Vietnam.
USA Bears “Special Responsibility”
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-Senator Edward Kennedy said today that the U. S. Government “bears a special responsibility” for the threat of war between India and Pakistan over the continuing crisis in East Bengal, reports AP.
He said the situation should be put before the United Nations, the Administration should change its policy toward the government of Pakistan, and the USA should sharply increase humanitarian aid in South Asia.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 02.11.1971