A diplomatic delegation representing the seven Arab League nations today served notice on Secretary of State John Foster Dulles that the Arab League was prepared “automatically and instantly” to wage war against Israel should Israel take any “expansionist or aggressive action.”
The Ambassadors of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, accompanied by the Egyptian and Yemenite Charges d’Affaires spent over an hour today with Secretary Dulles, Assistant Secretary Henry A, Byroade, and other leading State Department officials.
When the Arab delegation emerged from Mr. Dulles’ office, Lebanese Ambassador Charles Malik identified himself as the spokesman designated by the group. He said Mr. Dulles was informed “that if the mounting tension in the Near East, which is caused by Israel, should lead Israel to any expansionist or aggressive action concerning any of their countries, the other countries, being all bound together by the Arab collective security pact, would regard such an action as being upon them all and would automatically and instantly come to the support of the attacked country with all the means at their disposal.”
Ambassador Malik said “the reason they brought this matter to the attention of the United States Government is partly the interest they know the United States has under the Charter of the United Nations in the maintenance of peace and security in the Near East, partly the fact that without United States extensive aid to Israel, Israel would lack the material and moral means to commit any act of aggression.”
INDICATE SECRETARY DULLES’ INTEREST IN THEIR VIEWS
Asked about the reaction of Mr. Dulles, Mr. Malik said “he certainly expressed interest.” He also indicated in other ways that the State Department showed a sympathetic interest in the Arab point of view.
Mr. Malik said the Arabs told the Department that “a series of incidents since Kibya seems to indicate that Israel seems to want to provoke engagements with one or another of the Arab states.” He said Israel’s “warlike intentions” were established by “declarations by Israel authorities there and in this country, the concentration of troops, and by the apprehension felt in Arab public opinion that this series of acts have as their end the drawing of the Arabs into an open engagement.” The Ambassador alleged that Israel troops were concentrated on Israel borders facing Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
The delegation refused to tell reporters whether the State Department was today asked to expedite arms shipments to the Arab states in line with the Department’s announced policy of supplying such aid. Mr. Malik referred this question to the Departmental authorities. Assistant Secretary Byroade was asked about it but declined to comment. It was learned that the delegation asked Secretary Dulles to bring about a termination of American munitions sales to Israel.
Israel Minister Plenipotentiary Reuven Shiloah was to meet with Assistant Secretary of State Byroade tonight. The meeting will pertain to the present tense situation in the Near East and it is believed will be concerned with the ambush attack on an Israel bus in the Negev.
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