Plans to cut off economic aid to Israel the next time that nation is found guilty by the United Nations truce supervision organization have been formulated by the State Department and communicated to Francis H. Russell, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Israel who is in Washington for special consultation.
This contemplated action will be covered by a declaration now being considered in which the United States would join Britain and France in a general warning to Israel and the Arab states against fresh violence. One purpose of the warning will be to “calm Arab fears of aggressive Israel expansionism.” Another aim is to “reassure” Israel which is now very concerned about an American arms arrangement with Iraq and a pending grant of U.S. arms to Egypt.
The three-power declaration would reinforce and bring up to date the tripartite guarantee of 1950. It would pledge the Western Powers to immediately sever economic and military assistance to any nation found guilty by the United Nations apparatus of offending against truce regulations. It was indicated here by official sources that a repetition of Kibya or Nahhalin would occasion the termination of American aid to Israel.
Henry A. Byroade, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, proposed the new declaration at a secret meeting in Istanbul in May with American diplomats assigned to Near Eastern countries. On his return from Istanbul, Mr. Byroade stopped off in Paris and London and urged that officials of the French and British Governments join in this State Department-sponsored undertaking. Prior to the Istanbul meeting Mr. Byroade secured approval for the plan from leaders of the Administration.
The Near Eastern Division of the State Department envisages the new declaration quieting Zionist complaints against the arming of Arab League nations while at the same time providing an instrument for use against Israel in the event of another incident like Kibya or Nahhalin.
Official confirmation of this development is not available at this point but events point in the direction of early adoption of the scheme.
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