Secretary of State Dulles today recognized a new Israel’s right to passage through the Suez and Akaba waterways. He also condemned the use of the Gaza Strip as a fedayeen base.
Dulles told a press conference he was not aware of being officially advised by Israel of any plan to send a ship through the Suez Canal. He held that the exclusive emphasis of the Israel Government had been on the Akaba Strait and the Gaza Strip. He claimed that Premier Ben Gurion’s letter to President Eisenhower did not mention the Suez Canal. Dulles said he nevertheless believes every country has a right to use the canal. He said this view was reflected by the United States vote at the United Nations Security Council in 1951. The United States, he said, continues to adhere to this view.
He said the United States feels that UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold made considerable progress on Gaza, toward tranquility, but indicated the question of Egyptian belligerency was still in abeyance.
A questioner wanted to know if continued Egyptian use of belligerent rights would indicate a lack of respect for the opinion of mankind. Dulles said he could not speak for all mankind, but expressed the belief that American public opinion was opposed to the use of Gaza as a base for raids on Israel.
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