Alarm over the statement made by Secretary of State Dean Acheson this week-end defending the shipment of British arms to Arab states was voiced here today by Louis Lipsky, chairman of the American Zionist Council which represents all Zionist groups in the United States. A statement issued by Mr. Lipsky reads:
“The American Zionist Council is greatly disturbed by the January 15th statement of Secretary of State Dean Acheson in reply to Congressman Javits with reference to the reports that are coming in that the Arab states are preparing a new aggression against the state of Israel. Mr. Acheson sees nothing to be alarmed about in arming the Arab states for their ‘security’ requirements. He wants to wait and see what will happen.
“But where does security end and aggression begin? The weapon intended today for security may tomorrow, without notice, be used with deadly effect against the prospective victims of attack. The ordinary combat planes and light naval vessale and jet planes which Britain has shipped to Egypt ‘in accordance with treaty obligations’ are consigned for security use that may at any moment become part of a military plan of aggression in the ‘second round,’
“It is hard to believe that the interests of peace can be served by giving arms generously once more to states which have in the past never recognized the obligations of gratitude or covenant,” the statement concludes.
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