Rep. Jacob K. Javits in a speech before the House of Representatives today described the Administration’s decision to grant arms to Iraq as “properly a matter of grave concern” because of Arab-Israel friction. Rep. Javits told the House that he has asked the State Department for the following information:
1. What are the commitments and capabilities, if any, undertaken by Iraq to support Turkey and Pakistan in their defense arrangements for the Middle East?
2. What commitments, if any, have been undertaken by Iraq to refrain from using arms available to it for aggression, either by itself or through members of the Arab League?
3. How does our government believe arms available to Iraq will effect the three-power declaration of May, 1950, to preserve the integrity of the borders of the Middle East?
4. What action is our government prepared to take and is any parallel action called for by the other two governments concerned to see that the three-power declaration is respected?
Rep. Emanuel Celler asked today if the State Department can say what it would do if Iraq uses its newly granted U. S. arms to attack Israel. He pointed out that the Arabs do not openly oppose Russia, but “the one hostility openly acknowledged by the Arab states is their hostility against Israel.”
Because the Arab-Israel friction is so grave, Rep. Celler said, the cause of peace is not served by the grant of arms to Iraq. He demanded that the State Department inform him of the “exact terms” of the new arms agreement.
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