State Department Visualizes No Alleviation of the Arab-israel Problem

Assistant Secretary of State William M. Rountree appearing today before the Senate committee indicated he saw hope of improving American relations with the United Arab Republic, but thought it very difficult at this time to visualize any alleviation of the Arab-Israel problem.

Mr. Rountree, State Department officer in charge of Near Eastern Affairs, made known his views in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said solution of the Arab refugee problem hinged on settlement of other related questions and that it was extremely difficult to obtain an independent solution of it as a separate matter. He saw no immediate solution of the Arab refugee issue.

While he found it very difficult to visualize such a trend in the next few years, Mr. Rountree made known the United States considers is very desirable a general settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute and the Arab refugee question. He regretted that “a permanent solution to the lamentable problem of more than 900,000 unfortunate Palestine refugees has not yet been found, despite our persistent efforts.”

The high State Department official reported to the committee that “the maintenance of the uneasy peace between the Arab states and Israel is assisted by the continued presence of the United Nations Emergency Force in Gaza and Sinai, and of United Nations observers elsewhere in the area.” He told the committee he did not have sufficient information to evaluate the visit to Moscow of UAR president Nasser.

ARAB-ISRAEL DISPUTE STRONGLY EXPLOITED BY MOSCOW, OFFICIAL SAYS

Mr. Rountree named the Arab-Israel dispute among the most acute problems providing opportunity for Soviet exploitation. He said the Russians were taking advantage of this “most explosive” issue and exploiting emotions. Asked whether the easing of Middle Eastern tensions was a proper subject for a summit conference agenda, Mr. Rountree preferred not to comment publicly. He agreed to answer privately.

He said the United States was doing everything it could to help work out a solution of the Arab-Israel problem. He reported that “Israel has just celebrated the tenth anniversary of its independence. United States assistance has played its role in fostering the economic and human development of that country.”

“There were several outstanding differences on the Gulf of Akaba” as well as on other regional water disputes, he said. “These disputes are bad enough in themselves, but they also cause us harm because our friends in ardently pursuing, understandably, their individual interests sometimes fail to understand our impartiality,” he added.

U.S. RELAXES RESTRICTIONS ON “QUASI-MILITARY GOODS” TO NASSER

Mr. Rountree revealed in his testimony today that the United States has relaxed restrictions on the shipment of certain “quasi-military goods” to the United Arab Republic. He later explained to newspapermen that the easing of restrictions would permit the sending of spare parts to Egypt and Syria which could be used for military vehicles. He said that restrictions were lifted in the last few days.

The amount of equipment to be shipped is small, Mr. Rountree said. The new move to supply Nasser with U.S. “quasi-military goods” is indicative of improved relations of the United States with the United Arab Republic, he indicated. He said “we hope that trend will continue.”

In previously secret testimony released today by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Rountree denied a report that Israel had requested atomic weapons. The report was published March 18 by columnist Dorothy Thompson. Mr. Rountree termed the report “without foundation” and said he knew of “absolutely no request that has been made and no consideration has been given to any such aid.”

Sen. H. Alexander Smith, New Jersey Republican, commented that he was “glad” to get Mr. Rountree’s reply “because it seems to me it would be a terribly dangerous thing for us to do in that are.”