Statement on Military Sales Program
(March 2, 1967)
STATEMENT OF JOHN T. MCNAUGHTON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S MILITARY SALES PROGRAM [P. 134]
Mr. McNaughton. I want to double check this figure because
our total sales program runs about one and a half billion per
year, and how it could be a billion dollars in profits out of
one and a half billion dollars of business is a little
difficult for me to understand. I will double check that
number.
But, on the question of Senator Morse's proposal, you
cannot discuss the question of, for example, sales to Jordan,
sales to Israel, sales to Pakistan or India in open session
without risking very serious problems with the countries
involved. This is why we have requested a closed hearing on the
subject. The State Department would feel even stronger than we
do about this.
PUBLIC HEARING ON MILITARY EXPORT SALES [P. 140]
On the question of public hearings you, of course, should
address this question to the Secretaries involved, but my own
view is that it would be very difficult to answer the specific
questions that come up as to why sales in this case, why not in
that case. What were the other agreements that the country made
that made this a more sensible deal than appears by just a
transfer of arms, this sort of thing. This can hardly be done
in public session without gravely injuring our relations with
the countries involved.
[Deleted.]
Senator Gore. Aren't we?
Mr. McNaugthon. We are in fact, but there is an explanation
for it that cannot be given in public.
What we are trying to do is to keep this Jordan separated
from the Nasser group which is being, in effect, subsidized by
the Soviets. We are trying to keep Jordan, which is trying to
behave vis-a-vis Israel; we are trying to keep them from
falling into the grasp of a Nasserite group and, therefore, we
have to provide some arms to Jordan under various
circumstances. Israel then finds herself surrounded by the
Nasserite group, and, likewise, needs arms.
Senator Gore. Meanwhile, Jordan will not cooperate in
solving the Palestine refugee problem to which we have provided
subsidy all these years. Jordan, has no prospect of ever
becoming a viable economic state. It will be a permanent
American subsidized entity.
What is its justification?
Mr. McNaughton. Do I gather that----
Senator Lausche. May I interrupt here? I was in Israel in
November of 1955. Please take this off the record.
[Discussion off the record.]
Sources: Federation of American Scientists |