Shultz heads for office

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 6

Shultz heads for office

NZPA Washington George Shultz headed for certain United States Senate confirmation today as the United States’ sixtieth Secretary of State. The Senate foreign relations committee unanimously approved his nomination after two days of hearings at which he said that Palestinian negotiators must be included in a new Middle East peace effort. He also said that he would recommend the sale of jet fighters to Taiwan, despite Peking’s opposition, and said that the United States stance towards the Soviet Union should be firm, but not confrontational. Republican leaders

scheduled the Shultz Senate confirmation almost immediately after the committee vote’. But Democratic Senator. William Proxmire, filed, a formal objection against moving so fast. President Ronald Reagan nominated Mr Shultz on June 25 after Alexander Haig resigned over a policy dispute. Mr Shultz said that the Lebanon crisis clearly showed self-rule must be negotiated for Palestinians and that Palestinian representatives must be included in those talks. Mr Shultz said that the Palestine Liberation Organisation was one claimant to being the Palestinians’ repre-

sentative. But he said that there are others, and the P.L.O. would not be acceptable unless it renounced terrorism and recognised Israel's right to Mr Shultz said that the United States must maintain its new relations with China, but must also maintain its commitment to supply arms it deems necessary for Taiwan's defence. His view appeared to be a sharp departure from Mr Haig’s policy. The "Washington Post” reported that Mr Haig recommended a compromise with Peking. in which, the United States would gradually reduce United States arms sales to Taiwan.