“big Three” Discuss Soviet Sabotage of Arab-israel Peace Efforts

The use of United Nations machinery for promoting an Arab-Israel peace and the problem of a possible Soviet veto sabotaging UN Security Council action was discussed at the State Department today at the renewed meeting of United States, British and French diplomats exploring methods for reaching an Arab-Israel settlement.

Today’s meeting was attended by George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary of State, French Ambassador Couve de Murville and British Minister J. E. Coulson. Also at the meeting was Francis O. Wilcox, Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs.

The number of members of Congress who have put themselves on record in favor of permitting Israel to acquire arms in the United States to offset arms received by Egypt from Communist countries is constantly increasing. A number of Democratic Congressmen added their names today to the list of those who have urged immediate sale of war materiel to Israel.

Sen. John J. Sparkman, Democrat of Alabama, urged today that the United States attempt to mediate the Arab-Israel crisis rather than raise the possibility of employing military force. “We seem to be putting the cart before the horse” in attempting to find, a solution, he said. “Thus far, I haven’t seen any strong effort on our part to mediate between the two sides, and yet that ought to be our position now instead of talking about committing our armed forces,” he added.

Another Democratic Senator, Mike Mansfield of Montana, said that the Administration “should make it a point to consult with Congress before taking any military steps” in the Middle East. Both Senators said they had heard of no moves by the Administration to attain stand-by authority to use U. S. forces if fighting flares.