Secretary of State John Foster Dulles told a press conference today that the United States does not believe U.S. arms given to Arab states will be used against Israel.
The Secretary said no arms were being shipped to Israel because the United States does not think there is any danger at the present time to Israel. He said Israel was “quite substantially armed” and had the benefit of a U.S. declaration that this country would come to the aid of any Middle East state attacked.
Mr. Dulles expressed the view that the Syrian situation will be peacefully worked out although there were elements that the United States could not control which might precipitate trouble. He said Russia was continuing efforts to penetrate the area. He ruled out consultation with Russia toward a hands-off agreement on the Middle East, expressing fear that the Russians would abuse such an agreement.
Mr. Dulles revealed that no decision had been taken that Syria was under the domination of international communism. The internal situation in Syria was unclear and fluctuates, he stated. Because of this “somewhat obscure” picture, he said, President Eisenhower would not want to make a decision as an “academic exercise.” But in the event of aggression by Syria it would be necessary to make such a finding, he indicated.
Mr. Dulles said there was no new economic aid developed because of the crisis. Existing programs are being implemented with increased speed, he stated. He described the airlift of arms to Jordan as filling of commitments programmed some time ago rather than a new emergency program.
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