Dulles Outlines U.S. Policy on Sending Troops to Middle East

Secretary of State Dulles said today President Eisenhower would not use American armed forces in the Middle East without Congressional approval, unless a sudden emergency made it impossible to go to Congress. He told a press conference that he did not know of any emergency now pending which would require sending U.S. troops to intervene.

The Administration has no plans to ask Congress for standby authority to commit U.S. troops, he revealed. He made known that if an Arab-Israel war broke out while Congress was in session the Administration might consult with Congress and seek approval for the use of troops. If Congress were not available, he suggested that consultations with Congressional leaders would take place prior to action.

Mr. Dulles told the press conference the United States has not made an affirmative decision on the Israel arms list. He said U.S. policy toward the Israel application remains substantially what it was when he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a month ago. He asked that he be allowed to stand on what he told the committee at that time, saying his words on the arms issue were carefully watched and that he wished to be cautious in what he said.

Broadly speaking, Mr. Dulles said, the policy is as stated at that time. The United States follows this policy for reasons which seem to this government to be conducive to the exertion of the best influence for peace, he declared. He indicated that the United States would interpose no objection if Western nations wished to sell small quantities of arms to Israel.

STRESSES U. N. RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISRAEL; LAYS HOPE ON U. N. ACTION

The United States believes the United Nations has a peculiar responsibility for Israel and that the United Nations should increase that responsibility, Mr. Dulles stated. He expressed hope that a pending U. N. peace move would add appreciably to assurances of peace. He emphasized that basic U. S. policy in the Middle East included the goals of avoiding war while preventing subversion of the area. He expressed the belief that the United Nations resolution now proposed would contribute appreciably minimizing the war danger.

Asked about American responsibilities under the 1950 tripartite accord to maintain a common arms policy, Mr. Dulles replied that the injection of Communist arms changed the situation. He revealed that French Foreign Minister Christian Pineau has accepted, an invitation to visit Washington and will be here June 18. It is known that the Middle East situation will be among agenda topics.

Mr. Dulles charged that the new regime in the Soviet Union has increased the danger of hostilities in the Middle East. However, he refused to criticize Egyptian Premier Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser for his arms deal with the Communists. Mr. Dulles credited Col. Nasser with being motivated by a desire to maintain the independence of Middle Eastern countries.