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Dr. Bunche Denies He Recommended Lifting of Arms Embargo on Israel and Arab Countries

August 4, 1949
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Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, United Nations mediator for Palestine, denied today that he had flatly recommended lifting of the U.N. ban on the export of arms to the Near East.

Dr. Bunche, whose report on the successful Arab-Israeli armistice negotiations will be considered by the United Nations Security Council tomorrow morning, said it was up to the Security Council to decide if it was necessary to continue restrictions on war material for the Near East. He said he would be ready to make suggestions if asked by the Council.

Rep. Jacob K. Javits today called on Secretary of State Dean Acheson to oppose lifting the arms embargo for the Near East. In a speech before the House of Representatives this afternoon, Rep. Javits asked that “The Secretary of State announce U.S. policy on the United Nations arms embargo and urge that the U.S. delegate to the Security Council should oppose a lifting of the embargo.” The embargo should stand until peace, not armistice, exists in the Near East, he insisted. Rep. Arthur G. Klein of New York also demanded that the U.S. exert its influence to seal off the flow of arms to the Arabs to prevent a renewal of warfare in the Near East. He also asked that pressure be brought on England and France to halt arms shipments to the Arabs.

An appeal for a continued arms embargo for the Near East was addressed to Secretary of State Dean Acheson today by Sen. Alexander Wiley. In a special letter, he urged that Mr. Acheson instruct Warren Austin to cast his vote at the United Nations Security Council tomorrow for the continuation of the embargo.

Sen. Wiley backed up Israeli authorities who have warned that lifting of the embargo now would only encourage a disastrous arms race, promote new hostilities, and be a serious economic handicap to Israel and the already over-armed Arab states.

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