The United States was urged last night by Mayor Robert F. Wagner to send arms to Israel as a gift because Israel is the only friend of the Western Power’s in the Middle East. Speaking at a meeting of the United Shoe Workers Union, the New York Mayor said the U. S. Government must put Israel on the same footing as other nations in the free world which are receiving free military assistance.
“Not only should we send arms to Israel,” he said, “but in my humble opinion we should not ask them to pay for them. We send arms to countries that are less friends of ours and if we charge Israel for armaments we give for nothing to other countries then we are not their real friends. I know that little fighting republic is our only real friend in the Middle East and if that country is lost everything goes down the drain.”
Jacob K. Javits, Republican candidate for U. S. Senate from New York, was asked by reporters for comment on the statement made by Mayor Wagner, his Democratic opponent. Mr. Javits declared: “I believe the United States should show its responsibility for the security of Israel in any way it needs to be shown, including the giving of arms.” He said he is for continuing economic aid and mentioned Israel’s pending application for a $75,000,000 Export-import Bank loan for irrigation development.
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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.
