Secretary of State Dean Acheson today told a press conference that the United States position on lifting the arms embargo in the Middle East had been completely stated at Lake Success yesterday by U.N. delegate Warren Austin.
Mr. Austin told the Security Council that the United States Government favored lifting the arms embargo, but pledged itself not to support or aid an armaments race in the Middle East. Sec. Acheson declined further comment on the issue, pointing out that it was under discussion at the Security Council.
Recommendations by Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, acting Palestine mediator, to the Security Council that the Near East arms ban be lifted in favor of a “moral embargo” drew fire today from sources close to the Israeli Embassy.
The Israeli position is that final peace has not yet been signed and that facilitating of arms shipments will serve no peaceful purpose. U.N. delegate Warren Austin’s expression at Lake Success yesterday that “we hope prudence will prevail” on the part of arms suppliers is considered unrealistic here by those familiar with the situation.
An exceptionally qualified source reported today that war mongering by Syria and Egypt is growing daily as those states are intensively building up their armed forces. Instability in the Near East is on the increase and more munitions would only promote further uneasiness, the Israelis hold.
Israeli officials hint that adequate arms can be obtained by Israel outside the United States. However, they firmly assert that Israel must have peaceful economic development rather than divert its resources to maintaining a large army.
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