45. Editorial Note
On June 19, 1977, reporters Bob Clark and Barrie Dunsmore of the American Broadcasting Company’s (ABC) News Division interviewed Secretary of State Cyrus Vance on the ABC television and radio public affairs program “Issues and Answers.” During the interview, Clark commented that Vice President Walter Mondale had stated in his June 17 address to the World Affairs Council of Northern California (see Document 44) that the United States would not use the threat of reducing military aid to induce the Government of Israel to give up the occupied territories. Referring to the position of incoming Israeli Prime Minister Menahem Begin concerning the occupied territories, Clark inquired as to whether the United States would need to “apply pressure of some sort if it is going to play a significant role” in securing peace in the Middle East. Vance responded:
[Page 193]“I’m going to answer your question, but let me say something first because I’d like to sort of set this in a framework.
“When our Administration came into office, we decided that we were not merely going to react to situations, but that we were going to shape an agenda of items which we considered to be the highest priority and would proceed to deal with those issues.
“The first of those items was that dealing with the question of regional peace, which could affect, in the long run, world peace. And the Middle East was one of those obvious areas which involved regional peace. Another was, of course, Africa, where we’re also working.
“Secondly, we agreed that we would work to achieve progress in the arms control area because of its importance not only to the big powers but to the world in general, and therefore, we agreed to attack both the problem of strategic arms and of conventional arms.
“Thirdly, we decided that we must work with our colleagues to try and control the spread of nuclear weapons throughout the world, and we have been working to that end.
“Fourthly, we decided it was of utmost importance to strengthen the alliance with our allies, and the most important example of that is NATO. We have been working in that area, as you well know.
“Fifthly, we decided that it was important to promote cooperation rather than confrontation with the Third World. Much of what we have been doing at CIEC [Conference on International Economic Cooperation], in the OAS, in the meeting which I am going to be attending in the OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development] is related to this. This is the whole range of so-called North-South problems that are dealing with these terribly complicated economic relationships which arise out of our relationships with the Third World.
“Next, we believe that we must seek normalization of relations with as many countries as possible, because without a dialogue—a diplomatic dialogue—there’s no way even to advance our own interests, let alone hear what the concerns of the others are.
“And the last was, of course, the promotion of human rights.
“Now I just wanted to give you this sort of agenda of items which we have been using and proceeding along during this first stage.
“Now let me return, if I might, to the question of the Middle East. I think it’s too early yet to say what the foreign policy of Mr. Begin is going to be. He is coming to the United States, hopefully, at the end of the month of July. I think we must wait until he comes and we have a chance to hear firsthand what his foreign policy is, what he is prepared to do with respect to the negotiation of a peace in the Middle East, before we jump to any conclusions.
[Page 194]“I would note that I’ve read the press in the last day or so that Mr. Begin’s coalition has apparently endorsed a policy which says that they are prepared to enter into peace negotiations without any preconditions. We will look forward to seeing Mr. Begin when he comes and to finding out specifically what flexibility there is.
“Mr. Clark: Mr. Secretary, the Vice President said flatly that we will not use the threat of reducing military aid to Israel to get them to give up occupied territories.
“Secretary Vance: That’s right.
“Mr. Clark: Does that mean that we would continue to sell arms to Israel, and to Arab countries to the extent that they buy them from us, regardless of whether there is any progress toward peace in the Middle East?
“Secretary Vance: We have urged all of the parties, and I have talked with the parties myself, about the need for restraint and reduction in arms sales in the area—and we will continue to do so. But let there be no question: We have a deep commitment to Israel that we will provide to Israel the arms which are necessary for its self-defense, and we will abide by that without any question. And I don’t want any lack of clarity on that point.
“Mr. Dunsmore: Well, let me put the question to you this way then, sir: At the end of the 1973 war, the United States went on an alert to prevent the Russians from intervening, which in effect was saying we would be prepared to go to war. If there’s another war in the Middle East, and it comes about, at least in part, because the Israelis have not been prepared to make what we consider to be reasonable concessions, would we go to war to save them?
“Secretary Vance: That is a question which is an iffy question, which I am not going to answer.
“Let me say that we have told Israel that we stand behind her, that we will do everything that’s necessary to preserve her security and integrity, should it be challenged. I think that sufficiently answers your question.
“Mr. Dunsmore: It’s a cliche of the Middle East that it’s up to the parties themselves to settle it, but left to their own devices they’ve had four wars. Surely there must be some kind of friendly persuasion that we are planning on both sides.
“Secretary Vance: We clearly feel that we have a role to play here as a country which has good relationships with both sides—with both Israel and her Arab neighbors. We believe that we can work with the parties to try and help them find common ground. We are committed to do everything within our power to bring this about.
[Page 195]“Whether it can be accomplished I don’t know, because the ultimate decision is going to be made, and has to be made, by the parties themselves. You can never have a lasting peace until it’s one agreed upon by the parties. We will feel free, as I have indicated before, to make suggestions to the parties as to what we believe are fair and equitable approaches to these common core issues which we have talked about so many times in the past.” (Department of State Bulletin, July 18, 1977, pages 81–82; brackets in the quotation are in the original)
The full text of Vance’s interview is ibid., pages 78–83. The interview was broadcast on television and radio.