President Eisenhower, commenting at his press conference today on the Arab-Israel problem in the wake of the Israel withdrawal from the Gaza and Akaba areas said that he and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles did not believe the settlement of one or two phases would solve the underlying causes of difficulty in the area. He expressed the view that the United Nations should address itself to those basic, underlying difficulties.
The President said that unless there is a contrary ruling by the World Court the United States assumes the Strait of Tiran to be a free, international waterway and is prepared, together with other nations, to use it. But as to what an American shipper might assume would happen if he used the strait, Mr. Eisenhower said he would have to consult further with the State Department.
The President said that since as far back as 1948 he had never discussed Israel with anyone without saying its existence was an historic fact and that its problems must be dealt with like those of any other country. He said this in reply to a reporter’s question if he told Arabian King Saud that Israel was here to stay. Generally, the President found the outlook “brighter” in the Middle East, although he made it clear that problems were still to be anticipated.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
