41 forces in the countryside. I hope you will supplement the information for the record, including your evaluation of the wisdom of our continuing such exercises, taking into account our own national interest. ARE U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN CONTROLLING PHILIPPINE INSURGENCY? As I understand it, there are no U.S. military personnel assisting the Philippine Government in its attempts to control the insurgency. Mr. SISCO. That is correct. Senator PERCY. Does this include people engaged in training and advisory roles? Mr. Sisco. Yes, sir. Senator PERCY. If it does, is there any involvement of U.S. military personnel that you feel this committee should be apprised of? Mr. SISCO. Not that I am aware of, Senator, but I will look into it even further. I am not aware of it and I want to be sure I am on solid ground in responding. Senator PERCY. Thank you very much. IMPACT OF INTERNAL FERMENT IN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA With respect to the People's Republic of China, has the current internal ferment hampered the normalization of United States-Chinese relationships and, if so, in what way? Mr. SISCO. We don't have the impression, Senator, that it has had any impact on our relationships. Obviously I am not going to comment on what is going on internally. I think, one, I am not a China expert and, secondly, I think it inappropriate in any event. But there is no evidence that I have seen that this has had any impact on what has been and is continuing to be improved relationships and improved dialog between the two of us. Senator PERCY. The Shanghai communique provided for cultural, scientific, and educational exchanges. Is the pace of the exchanges behind schedule, on schedule or ahead of schedule? Mr. SISCO. Well, I am told it is roughly on schedule and that it hasn't had any appreciable effect on that. Senator PERCY. Could you provide for the record the number of scientific, educational and cultural exchanges that are scheduled to take place in the next few months? It was my understanding there has been a drastic cutback and I would be somewhat concerned if we were off schedule. Mr. Sisco. Well, let me put it in the record, but again I am told by my principal adviser on this, and I am not personally familiar with it, that there has not been a cutback, but we will provide it for the record. [The information referred to follows:] CULTURAL, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA [Supplied by Department of State] Our exchanges with the People's Republic of China are going along two tracks. There are the government-facilitated exchanges, ten each way this year, which were agreed upon during the Secretary of State's visit to Peking last November. There are also privately-arranged exchanges with the PRC, not discussed between the two governments. Under this kind of arrangement, for ex group of Chinese hand surgeons visited the U.S. in January and delegati Penn State and the University of California at Santa Cruz recently turned from China. The following exchanges of delegations are planned to take place next few months (our information on privately-arranged exchanges be complete): In April Seismologists (PRC to US)1. American Institute of Architects (United States to People's Republic of American Meteorological Society (United States to People's Republic of In May Acupuncture Anesthesiology Study Group (United States to People's F of China)1. Wayne State Delegation. Public Health group. In June Herbal Pharmacology Study Group (United States to People's Repu China)1. Laser Technicians (People's Republic of China to United States)1. Other Government-Facilitated Exchanges Planned for 1974 (dates not yet Plant Study Group (United States to People's Republic of China). Last November we also agreed to a set of more visible exchanges-in s the performing arts, and delegation of prominent local leaders of both cour To date, however, we have not worked out the detailed arrangements for exchanges. The PRC has agreed to send the Chinese Archeological Exhibition-th mier event in our exchange schedule-to the United States early next year detailed discussions are underway. POSSIBILITY OF NEUTRALIZING INDIAN OCEAN Senator PERCY. With respect to South Asia and the much discu Indian Ocean has the Department of State explored with the So Union the possibility of neutralization of the Indian Ocean? Mr. Sisco. We have, back in 1971, when the Soviets inform broached the question of arms limitation in the Indian Ocean a We indicated interest in hearing what the Soviets had in mind, they failed to follow up at that time. We have not explored neutr zation as such. I think that in terms of the whole Indian Ocean, feeling is that the kind of interest that we have here is largely one t needs to assure a freedom of communication, a freedom of access, fr dom of the seas. That is primarily the interest of the United States in this given uation and I don't see any evidence current or in at least the last ye or year and a half of any real interest on the part of the Soviets trying to work out some kind of an arms limitation. I think this area, of course, is becoming increasingly important you look ahead. If, in fact, over the next year, Senator, we do get 1 Government-facilitated exchange. 43 opening of the Suez Canal, there isn't any doubt that there will be, it will be less difficult for the Soviet fleet to move from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean. We have a situation in the Indian Ocean where the number of visits and the number of days that the Soviet fleet puts in is I think something like four times as many as we have over the past several years. The Soviets do use facilities in Aden, Socotra, and Somalia and so that their presence is a substantial presence in the Indian Ocean. Whether that is the primary motivating force for any lack of interest on their part in arms limitations, I think that would be pretty speculative. Senator PERCY. Would it be in our mutual interest to work toward an understanding with them on some limitation on military involvement there? Mr. Sisco. I think as a long-run objective, yes, Senator. IMPLEMENTATION OF SIMLA AGREEMENT Senator PERCY. With respect to Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, you may recall that I was in South Asia at the time of the peace agreement, for which all three governments certainly deserved commendation. In your judgment, have the letter and spirit of those agreements been reasonably well implemented? Mr. Sisco. It is an outstanding example of what people themselves can do if they make up their minds to negotiate a very difficult problem in the aftermath of a war without the interference of anybody else. I think the Simla agreement and so-called Simla spirit reflect positive moves on all three, and since then we have had one further move at the Lahore Conference just several weeks ago. Pakistan took an initiative indicating that it intends to recognize Bangladesh and I think this is a positive step because in my judgment it will have an impact on another critical problem that Pakistan has been worried about, namely, the possible trials of 195 Pakistanis that are being held by the Bangladesh and India. So I think myself, Senator, I would never have guessed that in the aftermath of that bitter war this much progress would be made between and among these three countries. I think it is a rather remarkable achievement. Senator PERCY. The brightest aspect of it was the leadership taken by the Prime Ministers of all three countries. It was not necessary for some superpower to intervene to bring them together. They recognized the necessity of doing this themselves. ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN BANGLADESH AND PAKISTAN Does it appear to you that mutually beneficial economic cooperation can now move forward between Bangladesh and Pakistan which have natural economic ties? Mr. SISCO. I have no doubt that that is the way the thing is going to move in the long run. I can't point, however, to anything that is occurring or is expected to occur by way of serious economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in the immediate future. I think we 30-856-74- 4 are a little bit away from anything meaningful in this regard, but I am sure all of these steps that you and I have discussed as laying the basis for this natural relationship that you have described. IMPLICATIONS OF ISRAELI INTERNAL POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS Senator PERCY. Could you give us the implications for Israeli foreign policy of the latest internal political developments in Israel? We have all watched those events with deep concern and we can now commend both Prime Minister Golda Meir and Mr. Dayan for the reconciliation that has made possible the formation of a government. Mr. Sisco. Well, Israel has gone through a very difficult period since the end of the October war. It has been an anguish, a shock, and it was costly. I have been to Israel four times in the last 4 months. I certainly detect a sobriety and a questioning in terms of where do we go in the aftermath of this October war. Obviously we were concerned and I say this without any intention of really making any specific comments on the internal affairs of any country. We were obviously concerned that the government be put together as promptly as possible and in such a way so that Israel will be in a position to carry out further negotiations looking towards a disengagement agreement with Syria. We think both sides took a constructive and positive attitude in it which resulted in achievement of separation of forces between Israel and Egypt and we think this is one important first step toward overall settlement. Now we move on and we are focusing on the question of SyrianIsraeli disengagement. The formation of the coalition in Israel I think puts that government in a position where the difficult decisions that lie ahead can be taken and I noted that Prime Minister Meir in her statement yesterday reconfirmed the intention of the Israeli Government to send a high level representative to Washington within the next 2 weeks to carry out these negotiations. We also have an understanding with President Assad, based on the recent trip we took to the area, that after we have had these talks with the Israeli high level representative, that the Syrian Government will send a high level representative here to Washington to pursue those negotiations, and this is what I would hope is in the offing over the next several weeks. Senator PERCY. I understand the Israeli representative may be here around March 21. Is that your impression? Mr. SISCO. We don't have a specific date as yet, Senator. The Prime Minister said last night within 2 weeks. Senator PERCY. I certainly hope, too, that the Syrians would see fit to send a representative here on or about the same date. We all hope that the problems will be resolved soon. We also appreciate the magnificent work Secretary Kissinger has done toward that end. OIL EMBARGO Lastly, with respect to oil. Sheikh Yamani has stated that he believes the oil embargo against the United States has served its purpose, but regrettably the Libyans, Syrians, Algerians, and Iraqis seem content to continue it. Could you give us an explanation of the reasons for the difference of opinion and their assessment of the situation? What hope can you offer for a lifting of the embargo and, if it is lifted, is it likely to be reimposed at someone's whim? Mr. Sisco. Senator, I am going to say very, very little in response to that question. It is not that I don't have a judgment, but I don't think it is prudent for me to make any real kind of a comment in response to what I consider to be not only very good questions but the right questions to ask at this particular juncture. I would only say this: That the embargo decision was a collective decision, and it will have to be a collective decision in terms of changing the decision. You have described the situation as I know it as well. My only judgment is that we should wait and see. There are various reports. I think we just have to wait and see what they specifically decide. I will just take the highroad of statesmanship this morning. Senator PERCY. I won't press you to answer in any greater detail. COMMENDATION OF WITNESS Senator PELL. It is a delight to welcome you here, a man who not only believes in balance-of-power politics but also has received a great deal of training and education in multilateral diplomacy. I am delighted you are on the job you are on. I have quite a few specific questions, and maybe we can run through them as quickly as possible. STATE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO S. 2802 The first is in connection with Cuba. I am well aware this has already been touched on. But on January 4 of this year the Chairman of this Committee sent to the State Department S. 2802, which was a bill introduced by me to repeal the so-called Cuban resolution, which has to be done before we move ahead to any further opening up of relations with Cuba or change of policy. Although we sent that up the beginning of this year, we received no response whatsoever. When can we hope for a response from the Department to that communication of January 4? Mr. SISCO. Let me look into it and I will give you an indication. I am not familiar with either the resolution, candidly, or the request and I will look into it and let me see what I can do about it. [The following information was subsequently received:] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, D.C., April 1, 1974. Hon. J. WILLIAM FULBRIGHT, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In accordance with your request in your letter of January 4, 1974, the Department of State has reviewed S. 2802, "To repeal Public Law 87-733, known as the Cuban Resolution", and is pleased to comment upon it. As stated in then Assistant Secretary Abshire's letter to you of June 3, 1970, the Department of State considers that the repeal of Public Law 87-733 is a |