Secretary of State John Foster Dulles said at a press conference today that the State Department has no policy of cold-shouldering Israel in favor of the Arab states, but that he knows of no plans for additional aid to Israel in the wake of the Soviet diplomatic break with Israel. He added that any additional aid would require Congressional approval.
He evaded a question–put to him by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency–which asked what action the State Department might take on a request for non-reimbursible military aid placed by Israel with the Department over a year ago. Asked if there was not already a definite plan for sending’military aid to the Arab states, the Secretary said that he could not categorically answer “yes” or “no.” He said there has been talk of a Middle East command and that the discussions might involve military assistance.
Mr. Dulles said that Israel would be welcome in such a command. He said the command would be comparable to NATO, with the Middle East countries being linked with Turkey and Greece. He revealed that there had been discussion on allowing Egypt to purchase small quantities of military equipment of a type not suitable for warfare against Israel. No definite decision has been reached on this as yet, he said.
Questioned on whether the State Department had turned down the Israel request for moral and material assistance voiced by Ambassador Abba Eban after the Soviet Union severed diplomatic ties, the Secretary said it was not correct to say that Israel’s request had been rejected.
At another point in the press conference, he stated that he was not fully familiar with the situation but that it was his recollection that Israel’s needs were covered in the current Mutual Security Aid program and that further aid could be granted only with Congressional approval. He added that he knew of no plans for additional aid.
Earlier it was learned from government sources that a plan had been worked out to extend $11,000,000 in munitions grants to Egypt. The proposal reportedly provides for grants which may be reimbursible over a long period of time.
(The Associated Press reported earlier today that “the Eisenhower Administration has decided to sidestep Israel’s bid, temporarily at least, in order to avoid antagonizing strategic Arab governments.”)
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