Secretary of State John Foster Dulles today met for three-quarters of an hour with two Arab ambassadors who, according to authoritative diplomatic sources, sought to prevail on the United States Government to change its stand on the Big Three draft resolution on the Israel-Syrian dispute submitted at the United Nations on December 16.
The Arab bloc is seeking to bring about revision of the resolution to provide Syria with veto power over Israel projects in the demilitarized zone. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to resume discussion on the resolution tomorrow.
After talking to Mr. Dulles, Syrian Ambassador Farid Zeineddine and Lebanese Ambassador Charles Malik told newspaperment that they enjoyed “a very delightful talk.” The Ambassadors declined to discuss details of the talk and refused even to say whether United Nations matters were discussed.
Diplomatic officials informed on Near Eastern matters viewed the meetings as a last-minute Arab attempt to get Henry Cabot Lodge, Chief American delegate at the United Nations, to favorably consider Arab proposals for modifying the three-power draft. The resolution in question arises from the Syrian-Israel dispute over the Bnot Yaacov hydroelectric project which has been the subject of controversy for some time.
Arab diplomats said here today that there has been no change in the situation since the Council met last week, but made known that they are hopeful the conference with Secretary Dulles this morning would clear the way for the action sought by the Arab League bloc.
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