Shouts of “Long Live America” as well as cheers and applause greeted Secretary of State John Foster Dulles today when he left the United States Embassy here to confer with Israel Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett.
While the cheering crowds gathered in the streets outside the Embassy, several hundred Mapam members and others attracted to a leftist demonstration in Mograbi Square, the center of Tel Aviv, heard the American Secretary of State denounced. In the southern section of this city a Communist anti-Dulles rally was the scene of several minor clashes between Communists and anti-Communists which were quickly quelled by the police. Both leftist demonstrations were held in the face of police refusal to grant official permits.
At noon today the Israeli police put into operation the greatest precautionary action in the country’s five-year history. Lydda airfield, where Mr. Dulles and his party landed, was surrounded by mounted police. The highway between the airfield and Tel Aviv as well as all roads in the immediate area were cordoned off, while the entire block on which the U. S. Embassy is located was barred to the public and filled with policemen.
When the plane bearing Mr. Dulles, Mutual Security director Harold Stassen and Assistant Secretary of State Henry Byroade crossed into Israel territory in the vicinity of Elath, a three-plane Israel fighter escort picked it up and accompanied it to Tel Aviv. As the Secretary stepped out of the plane to be greeted by Premier David Ben Gurion’s representative, Dr. Theodore Kolleck, and the chief of protocol of the Foreign Office, a special 48-man paratroop guard of honor snapped to attention.
DULLES SAYS U.S. AND ISRAEL WILL BENEFIT FROM HIS VISIT
In a statement to newsmen at the airfield, Mr. Dulles declared: “We know the great progress made by Israel and the energetic way in which its leaders are attempting to solve the problems which exist.” He added that he and the members of his party were “looking forward” to the discussions with Premier Ben Gurion and Minister Sharett, and that he was making the trip to gather information at first hand “as well as to show the friendship of our people and government for your government and people.” He also expressed confidence that the talks with the Israeli leaders would be of mutual benefit.
Last night, Mr. Sharett told the press that he was looking forward to meeting Mr. Dulles and continuing the talks which he began in Washington last month with Mr. Dulles and President Eisenhower. He stressed that the question of Arab-Israel relations and American economic and military aid to Israel would be raised in his meeting with Mr. Dulles. He added that Israel would make a number of suggestions aimed at stabilizing conditions in the Middle East.
About his trip to Washington, Mr. Sharett said that while the problem of military aid had not been settled, there were signs that the United States might make a favorable decision. He also welcomed British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill’s statements in Commons Monday declaring that Britain had certain duties and responsibilities toward Israel.
Mr. Dulles and his party is spending today in Tel Aviv and will visit Jerusalem tomorrow. En route they will visit a specially-prepared industrial and agricultural exhibition which will feature both items for export and exhibits depicting Israel’s industrial development.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
