The State Department holds the position that “despite press reports to the contrary, we have no evidence of any kind that the USSR has installed any such (ground-to-ground) missiles in Arab countries up to the present time, or that such installation is imminent.” The denial was made by Assistant Secretary of State William B. Macomber, Jr., in a letter to Rep. J. Herbert Burke, Fla. Rep.
Mr. Macomber conceded that “some Arab countries have received certain other types of tactical missiles.” He said that “there has been no evidence of a large new influx of Soviet military personnel into Syria, Egypt, Algeria or other Arab countries.” Government estimates on the numbers of Soviet personnel in these countries, he said, were “classified” information but “I am able to say that they are substantially below the figures cited in recent press reports.”
The State Department official also minimized the danger of Soviet air power operating from Egypt. He said that the Soviet TU-16 bombers had been in Egypt on a temporary mission but had returned to the USSR. The Russians, he added, had not sent any of their best long-range and medium-range bombers to the Middle East.
Although he minimized the extent of Soviet military personnel placement in the Middle East, Mr. Macomber revealed that “increased Soviet military activities in the Mediterranean area” have been discussed by the United States “with our NATO allies.” He said that “instability and disputes in the Middle East have provided a basis for increasing Soviet pressure and influence.” He also noted that “the Soviet resupply of losses in military equipment suffered by some of the radical Arab states in the June 1967 war has given Moscow a chance to make up for the psychological loss it suffered in the Arab military defeat.”
Outlining the aims of American policy in the Middle East as “to promote our important political and commercial interests,” Mr. Macomber said that “we believe it essential to maintain a collaborative relationship with the moderate elements in the area with which we have had long and friendly ties. We hope that our ties can be restored. In time, with those states in the area which broke diplomatic relations with us last year during the Arab-Israeli war; but we insist that relations can be resumed only on the basis of mutual respect and dignity, and under conditions which will specifically compensate us for damages suffered.”
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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.
