Egypt today defied the stand taken by the United States this week-end that the Gulf of Akaba is an international waterway and that Israeli shipping must not be molested there, or in the Suez canal. In a broadcast from Cairo Aly Sabri, Col. Nassers chief political aide, challenged the U.S. view and said: If Israeli ships try to force their way through the Suez Canal or the Gulf of Akaba, we will prevent them. If Israel attempts to obtain foreign assistance in such a move, the outcome will be the same as the outcome of the tripartite invasion.
The attitude of the U.S. Government with regard to Israel’s right to use the Gulf of Akaba and the Suez Canal was made known by the State Department this week-end in a note to 11 Arab nations. The note rejected the Arab contention that Egypt is within its rights to bar Israeli shipping from the Akaba and Suez waterways. It was a reply to a demarche delivered by diplomats of the 11 countries to Secretary of State Dulles on May 24.
The United States reply, supported Israel’s rights to passage through the Suez Canal and said this country does not believe Egypt has any rightful claim to barring Israeli shipping under a “self-defense” provision of Article 51 of the United Nations Charter which Egypt has been citing.
On the Akaba matter, the U. S. note also supported Israel and reiterated that American ships would use the waterway in the course of normal commerce and join with others to secure general recognition of this right. The note was addressed to Egypt, Iraq, Jordan. Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen. It was delivered through diplomatic channels.
On the broad question of innocent transit into the gulf, the note cited Egypt’s own statement of January 28, 1950, assuring that Egyptian occupation of Tiran and Sanafir, the two islands at the mouth of the gulf, would in no way interfere with free passage. According to the U.S. note, Israel’s transit rights existed before the Sinai war. After withdrawal, “the principles of international law regarding free and innocent passage again became applicable to Israeli traffic in the Gulf of Akaba.”
The United States called for solution of differences in accordance with the spirit of the United Nations and said this country would take into account any future decision by the International Court of Justice regarding the Akaba Gulf. The note said the United States “supports the continued stationing of the United Nations Emergency Force at the Straits of Tiran believing that the force contributes importantly to peace in the area.
On Israel’s Suez rights, the note cited the United Nations Security Council resolution of September I, 1951. It also noted the six principles of the Security Council resolution of October 13, 1956, particularly the one reaffirming “free and open transit through the canal, without discrimination, overt or covert.” Egypt’s belligerency rights were questioned on the matter of denial of passage to Israeli shipping.
The United States called attention to the Charter of the United Nations which speaks of settlement of disputes “in conformity with the principles of justice and international law”
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