The views of the State Department on American Israel relations and on the Arab-Israel issue were outlined here today to Rep. James Roosevelt, California Democrat, by Thruston B. Morton, Assistant Secretary of State.
Emphasizing that the basic thinking of the State Department was expressed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John D. Jernegan in his speech on March 6, Mr. Morton, in a letter to Rep. Roosevelt, said: “The Department does not feel that its policies regarding delivery of military equipment (to Iraq) constitute discrimination and abandonment of our policy of impartiality in United States relations between Israel and the Arab states.”
Referring to the Arab-Israel dispute in general, Mr. Morton stated: “It is doubtful if direct intervention by outside powers would bring about a solution of this dispute. On the contrary, it would appear that a settlement can be achieved only through a step-by step reduction of tensions by action on the part of the states directly concerned in an effort to create an improved atmosphere. A matter of great importance in this regard would be agreement between the parties on a fair division of the water resources of the area–a problem which has engaged the attention of Ambassador Eric Johnston and a staff of experts for 16 months.”
The State Department today declined to comment on whether the United States is planning to enter the Anglo-Turkish-Iraqi accord. Asked at the press briefing today, State Department spokesman Henry Suydam said he had “no report” or developments.
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