President Eisenhower indicated firm opposition, today to the sale of arms by the United States to Israel. The President justified United States munitions shipments to Saudi Arabia, but expressed belief that arms sales to Israel would not insure peace, citing the Arab populations as contrasted with the population of Israel. He said the great thing the United States was trying to do was to avoid an arms race.”
Mr. Eisenhower called on both sides to abide by the United Nations and avoid initiating incidents. He said he felt the United Nations should take urgent action to prevent Arab-Israel war. His won concern over the situation the President said, was expressed in the joint statement issued with British Prime Minister Eden following their recent meeting here.
The President told his press conference that the question of United States arms sales to Saudi Arabia should be taken with a “grain of salt.” He went on to justify such transactions stating that a “few” tanks and other materiel were bought and paid for under export licenses issued a “long time ago.”
Presenting arguments against the sale of arms to Israel, he questioned the absorptive capacity of Israel, stressing the larger populations in the surrounding Arab states. He evaded direct comment on the Jordanian ouster of British General John B. Glubb from command of the Arab Legion. He said he would rather hear this matter discussed from London.
Mr. Eisenhower said that anybody who would minimize the dangers of the situation would be more than complacent. He indicated a belief that the problem could not be improved by public discussion. He said the United States and Britain were both trying to promote friendship among “the potential enemies” in the Middle East. “We try to be friends to both sides, as indeed does Britain, in the hope that by doing that we can promote real understanding and friendship between them,” the President stated.
Yesterday, President Eisenhower discussed the Middle East situation with Herbert Hoover, Jr., Acting Secretary of State. The details of the conversation were not obtainable, but Mr. Hoover indicated that the present Arab-Israel crisis was thoroughly examined.
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