White House disavows contents of Watt letter

By Compiled From Wire Service Dispatches With Analysis From Monitor Correspondents Around The World; Edited By Anne Shutt

July 26, 1982

Washington

The White House quickly distanced itself Saturday from a letter Interior Secretary James Watt sent to the Israeli ambassador saying US support for Israel might weaken if liberal American Jews do not back administration energy policies.

Mr. Watt said ''no threat was intended'' in the letter he sent Ambassador Moshe Arens June 17. Watt said he was giving Arens his own views and was not speaking for the White House. White House spokesman Larry Speakes said the letter neither expresses the President's view nor reflects administration policy.