Page:Ford, Bipartisan Congressional Leadership - September 12, 1974(Gerald Ford Library)(1552782).pdf/4

Rh So how much more are you going to ask for?

I have never seen the Vietnam aid debate more acrimonious. This is an election year. Fertilizer is a sore point here -- you can't get it here. To talk two months before elections about more aid and more fertilizer is dreaming. Try to hold the line and come back after the elections. I think these are the facts.

I understand, but we are trying to lay things out frankly.

We could have done it earlier, but to reopen it now is really impossible.

I think we will not get a bill before the elections and will be working on a CR. The problem is the CR is low and doesn't include the Middle East.

That's right. The bill has been cut so badly that in many ways we would be better off with a CR, except it would cripple us in the Middle East.

We defeated attempts in the House to cut to $900 million. The Senate was lower but we gave $1 billion. It was Appropriations which did the $700 million. We will give you a supplemental; it is on the floor that the trouble will come.

The Middle East is tough right now. We are negotiating with Rabin now. They are asking for substantial funds. Look at it in global terms: How can we be having a disaster in SoutheaseSoutheast [sic] Asia while we are trying to negotiate in the Middle East?

I filibustered a cut-off of aid to Turkey. You can get Israeli aid, but Greece and Turkey is another problem. I am afraid the Committee may put the Turk prohibition in. You better work on that one.

A cut-off to Greece and Turkey would have dire consequences. Negotiations are moving in the direction which we think will be satisfactory.

My committee reported out a bill which had inadequacies. To be frank, though, I think we will have a fight on the floor trying to sustain what is in it.

In addition to the funds, we are concerned about the restrictions. In Greece and Turkey, the only way the situation can be worked out is by