Secretary of State Dean Acheson was told today by Israel Ambassador Eliahu Elath that the Israel Government is “seriously concerned” because of the continued supply of arms by Britain to the Arab states.
The Israel Ambassador told Secretary Acheson that the Arab League is destroying attempts to achieve a lasting peace in the Near East. He expressed concern over the maneuvers by the Arab League to wreck bilateral negotiations between Israel and individual Arab states and said that the League is supporting the policies of “war and aggression” against the Jewish state advanced by the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, who aided Hitler during the last war.
(In London, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the American section of the Jewish Agency, told a press conference today that there has been no reply thus far from the State Department on the official request for arms submitted a few weeks ago by Ambassador Elath.)
Diplomatic sources here said that Ambassador Elath found Secretary Acheson receptive to Israel’s desire for individual peace negotiations without Arab League interference. The 40-minute talk was described as significant. Mr. Acheson, it was said, concurred with Mr. Elath’s views on Arab League obstruction to direct negotiations between Israel and individual Arab states.
Mr. Elath, it was said, discussed with Mr. Acheson the basic elemants of Israel’s desire for peace. The Secretary repeatedly agreed with Mr. Elath’s views that direct negotiations are the only avenue to ultimate peace. He indicated that the U.S. would give full support to every attempt in that direction. Diplomatic sources also said the Israel Ambassador expressed to Mr. Acheson satisfaction that the United Nations Trusteeship Council has decided to refer the internationalization statute for Jerusalem to the states directly concerned. The meeting was described by reliable sources as “most important” in connection with Israel’s efforts to secure a lasting peace.
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