Sir Anthony Eden, Britain’s Prime Minister, implied here today that he does not intend to insist in his talks with President Eisenhower this week on trying to achieve Arab-Israel peace on the basis of the partition decision adopted by the United Nations resolution in 1947, which would amount to truncation of Israel territory.
On the other hand, the British Prime Minister stuck by a contention that the Baghdad Pact is a valid regional agreement in spite of the fact that it explicitly bars Israel from membership.
These were the highlights in a shipboard interview held this morning aboard the S.S. Elizabeth when Sir Anthony arrived here with Britain’s foreign minister, Selwyn Lloyd, to begin their Washington discussions about world problems with President Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
Expressing his belief that the Washington talks right result in “useful and constructive efforts” toward solution of world problems, Sir Anthony conceded that “we”–meaning himself and Mr. Lloyd–were “particularly anxious to make progress” on the Middle East problem. “Do you intend to use the 1947 resolution as your basis for Middle East peace planning?” Sir Anthony was asked. “If you read carefully what I have said, “be replied, “you will find that, that is not exactly what I have said.”
Sir Anthony took recourse to another interpretation of facts when he was asked about Israel’s exclusion from the Baghdad Pact. “In view of the fact that Article 5 of the Baghdad Pact explicitly bars Israel from membership,” he was asked, “do you consider the pact a true and valid regional agreement?” His reply was that Britain is a member of that pact.
“Do you approve of the exclusion of Israel from this pact?” he was further asked. “That is not exactly what the article says, “he answered. “But we are part of that pact.” Asked about Israel’s application to buy United States munitions, Sir Anthony said Israel’s request was a matter for Washington to decide. He terminated the press conference after a brief message to the American people expressing his hope that “constructive” results may come from the top-level Washington discussions.
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