Israel Ambassador Abba S. Eban met today for over an hour with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and later told newsmen that a review was held on the Near Eastern political situation as it has developed since the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly. Impressions were exchanged on the mission of U. N. Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold.
Procurement of U.S. military equipment was among other topics covered, Mr. Eban said. This matter, he said, remained in continuous discussion, proceeding from “one item to another.” He said some items had been settled and “we go to others.” He gave an impression that some of the equipment sought by Israel had been released.
(In Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Gold Meir conferred today with United States Ambassador Edward B. Lawson. The subject of their conversation was presumed to be Israel-American relations and the situation in the Middle East in the wake of Mr. Hammarskjold’s visit here last week.)
Commenting generally on the procurement of arms, Mr. Eban said he could not go beyond a statement issued on September 3 by the State Department. The Department then said that “relatively small quantities of arms” were sold to Israel. Department sources supplemented the statement with an explanation that it did not mean the new major arms list submitted by Israel after the Iraqi upheaval had been acted upon. It pertained, they said, to the items for which export licenses had been issued to Israel from time to time.
The September 3 statement was intended to refute Egyptian charges that America had agreed to furnish Israel an important amount of arms. Department sources explained the statement in that light and said it was not meant to indicate approval of the big Israeli “shopping list.”
Mr. Eban said his meeting with Mr. Dulles was mainly a general review of international problems, especially those affecting the Near East. Problems of a technical and supply nature came up. It was in that context that arms were discussed.
The Ambassador said he provided Mr. Dulles with a general review of international problems, especially those affecting the Near East. Problems of a technical and supply nature came up. It was in that context that arms were discussed.
The Ambassador said he provided Mr. Dulles with a general outline of hopes for economic cooperation in the fiscal year just beginning. Tomorrow the Ambassador will hold more detailed talks with C. Douglas Dillon, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs. It is customary at this time of year to renew economic aid plans.
Mr. Eban characterized today’s meeting as a “friendly and constructive exchange of all matters of mutual interest. “
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