Eisenhower Receives Sharett, Shows Interest in Israel Problems

President Eisenhower today received Israel’s Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett and discussed with him various matters concerning the situation in the Middle East. Israel Ambassador Abba Eban was present.

Mr. Sharett later described the meeting as “a brief interview” with the President. He said that he had told President Eisenhower that on the subject of economic aid, Israel noted the “helpful attitude of the United States in the past”. He added that he was gratified to find the President interested in the problems of Israel. In the discussion there was no reference to Israel-Soviet issues, Mr. Sharett emphasized.

The Israel-Soviet question was however, touched upon in a talk which Mr. Sharett had earlier this morning with Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson, General Omar N. Bradley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other military leaders. Israel Ambassador Abba Eban accompanied Mr. Sharett to the Pentagon, where the meeting took place.

One of the questions that arose during the Defense Department meeting was Israel’s application for non-reimbursable military assistance was entered in February, 1952, but not yet granted. Mr. Sharett said the talk covered “general defense arrangements”. It was indicated that the arms situation was also discussed by the Israel leaders when they talked with the President later

As Minister Sharett and Ambassador Eban were leaving Mr. Eisenhower’s office at the White House, West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and his party entered the office. An extremely brief greeting was exchanged between the two groups. It was Mr. Eban’s first meeting with the German Chancellor. Later, the Israel Ambassador attended a reception tendered in Dr. Adenauer’s honor by the German Charge Affaires.