Israel Ambassador Abba Eban today discussed recent addresses of Assistant Secretary of State Henry A. Byroade against the background of the present status of Israel-American relations in a 45-minute talk at the State Department today with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
Following his talk with Secretary Dulles, the Ambassador said: “After several weeks without an opportunity of discussing American-Israel affairs I took the opportunity to bring relations under review and referred very frankly to a disquiet in all circles in Israel about the future of American-Israel relations.” Mr. Eban reported that the Secretary gave him “a most important and encouraging reply concerning the high value he attaches to the friendship of the two peoples and which I am conveying to my government. ” He added that he got the impression that Secretary Dulles “feels it is not right to believe any recent events indicate any lessening of American friendship and sympathy for Israel.”
Apart from this “extremely frank and valuable discussion, ” Mr. Eban said the question of Arab-Israel relations was taken up and possible means of reducing tension in that area considered. The question of the recently announced American munitions grant to Iraq was among the problems discussed, the Ambassador revealed.
At the start of today’s conversation with Secretary Dulles, the Ambassador expressed Israel’s views on “all recent expressions of American policy. ” This led to a general discussion of the recent pattern of developments. It was clear that the Ambassador had pursued at some length questions created by Assistant Secretary Byroade’s recent expressions affecting Israel. Reuven Shiloah, Israel Minister Plenipotentiary, participated in today’s meeting.
The Ambassador also made known today that he very recently met with Eric Johnston, Presidential envoy to the Near East, and discussed the proposed Jordan Valley Authority and irrigation matters.
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