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Dulles Presents Three-point Program on Middle East to U.N. Assembly

September 19, 1958
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Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, addressing the United Nations General Assembly today, presented a three-point program for the Middle East as part of an overall American plan for “reinforcing peace and hastening progress” throughout the world. The program provided for:

1. The creation of a United Nations stand-by peace force.

2. The establishment of a new United Nations system of long-term cooperative action “looking to more rapid economic growth in the Near East. “

3. The monitoring by the United Nations–and reporting to the world–of all instances of “inflammatory propaganda” which causes tension and incites people to violence.

Mr. Dulles recalled the adoption of the Arab resolution for pacification of the Middle East, at the special Assembly three weeks ago. Referring to that measure, he virtually challenged the Arab nations to implement that measure in good faith. “If, through deeds, the words are given reality, ” he said, “there will be a new opportunity to promote political, economic and social welfare in the area. “

The Secretary of State called attention to some of the principal points of that resolution in terms clearly including Israel, by noting that the Arab states had agreed in the measure to “respect the freedom, independence and integrity of other states, and avoid fomenting civil strife. “

Both the proposals for the UN stand-by peace force and for the new Middle East economic agency were spelled out by Mr. Dulles in considerable detail for the first time. Regarding the peace force, he suggested on behalf of the U.S. Government that a planning staff for the force be established by the UN; that the force itself be “not a combat force, but rather a group that would observe and patrol and, by its very presence, make visible the interest of the world community in the maintenance of tranquility. ” He did not mention his idea of the size of such a force.

In regard to economic development, Mr. Dulles pledged that President Eisenhower would seek funds from Congress for making the plan a reality. He stressed that the United States will carry forward its existing development financing programs “on a vigorous and effective basis” and “will undertake increased efforts to emphasize the constructive role that private initiative can play in economic development. “

ISRAELIS TO STUDY DULLES’ SUGGESTIONS; NOTE ECONOMIC AID PROPOSAL

Israeli circles said that the “comprehensiveness” of Mr. Dulles’ address will make it necessary for Israel to study the contents in detail. They pointed out that the American Secretary of State repeated in his policy speech the central phrase contained in the Arab resolution unanimously passed by the extraordinary General Assembly a month ago referring to the freedom, independence and integrity of all the states in the Middle East.

In regard to the United States proposal for a United Nations radio monitoring service in the Middle East, the Israelis noted that they have acquired a great deal of experience as targets of radio programs preaching incitement. There was a hint that the Israel delegation may have more to say on this subject at a later time.

Israeli circles also noted that while Mr. Dulles spoke of the creation of a new economic aid agency for the Middle East, he indicated clearly that the existing programs of bi-lateral economic agreements would not be dropped.

GROMYKO VOICES SOVIET OPPOSITION TO U. N. STAND-BY PEACE FORCE

In a tough typically cold war speech, Andrei A. Gromyko, Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union, expressed sharp opposition to the creation of what he called “UN armed forces. “

Telling the Assembly that the Soviet Union had already entered objections to the creation of a new United Nations force, he said that such plans “cannot be qualified otherwise than as an attempt by those who have suffered a political fiasco with their intervention in the Near

East to invent this time new, somewhat camouflaged forms of interference in the affairs of Arab countries and other states under the UN name. “

Mr. Gromyko declared that the West is apparently trying to create some form of UN machinery “to keep American guns and tanks in the Near East. ” Then he added sarcastically: “Is it really only in the Near East? It seems to me that there is no necessity to prove how dangerous to the cause of peace and to the UN itself it would be to support such plans. “

The proposal for a stand-by peace force was approved with a reservation in another major policy address by Foreign Minister Allchiro Fujiyama of Japan.

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