The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today begins final action in its task of “marking up” the foreign aid authorization bill—a hatchet job that might more appropriately be described as cutting down foreign aid. The committee already has chopped 25 per cent from the Administration's $3.3‐billion military and economic assistance request.

The cruelest cut of all is a provision in the tentative committee bill which would, in effect, take nearly 10 per cent more out of total funds available for foreign aid in the current fiscal year. This is a requirement that $250 million in emergency relief, for Pakistani refugees, requested by the President after submission of the regular aid bill, be deducted from other foreign assistance programs.

Congress has good reason to be angry and alarmed over the Administration's handling of the Pakistani situation. There are good grounds for another committee amendment which orders suspension of military and, development aid to the Government of Pakistan pending resolution of the political crisis in East Pakistan and return of the refugees.

But the humanitarian needs created by the unprecedented flow of nine million Bengali refugees into India and by the ravages of internal strife in East Pakistan transcend politics. This extraordinary human tragedy demands an extraordinary response from all nations. The American response should be straightforward and generous. should not be compromised by this insidious linkage with the on‐going quarrel between Congress and the Administration over the dimensions and directions of long‐term foreign aid.