Arab-israel Issues Discussed by Italian Premier with Eisenhower

Premier Amintore Fanfani of Italy, who has just concluded two days of meetings with President Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, is understood to have proposed to the American leaders that the West ask Israel and the Arab States for formal pledges that they would not interfere in each other’s internal affairs.

This was said to be one of the key points raised by Premier Fanfani in the political economic program for an “umbrella” over the Middle East. Other basic recommendations included a United Nations sponsored economic aid program for the Middle East and an agreement by the powers not to interfere in Middle East affairs.

In an address before the National Press Club here yesterday, the Italian Premier noted that among the “score” of political problems in the Middle East which require settlement are the question of Israel, “as well as the great problem of Arab refugees.”

After their parley, the American an Italian statesmen issued a communique revealing that their talks had included the “Middle East and the problems surrounding a possible meeting of heads of government within the framework of the United Nations.” It was also noted in the communique that they had “exchanged views on the recent developments in the Middle East and found themselves in satisfactory accord. They also agreed on the Importance of the position of Italy with respect to its interests in the Mediterranean and in the Middle East.”