Election of the United Arab Republic to the United Nations Security Council will not change the State Department’s “well-known position concerning the necessity for an Arab-Israel peace settlement, and the UAR’s obligation to assure freedom of transit to all nations through the Suez Canal,” Temple Wanamaker, Director of Public Services of the State Department, said today.
Mr. Wanamaker, in a letter to National Commander I. L. Feuer, of the Jewish War Veteran of the U.S.A., said: “The UAR is a candidate for the Council seat traditionally occupied by a Middle Eastern state, is the only candidate for this seat, and is understood to have the endorsement of the other Arab states. The election is by secret ballot and, under General Assembly procedures, is not preceded by nomination or discussion of a candidate’s qualifications.”
The Jewish War Veterans indicated disappointment in the State Department letter. Replying to Mr. Wanamaker, Commander Feuer said the JWV’s “primary concern remained a question of whether the United States will actively oppose the election of the UAR to this seat in the Security Council.”
Mr. Feuer said that “any nation which flouts Security Council and United Nations decision, which refuses to negotiate peace, and continues to declare that it is at war with another nation, likewise a member of the United Nations, clearly displays that kind of unreasonable attitude which does not persuade to the idea that such a nation merits election to the Security Council.”
Commenting on the exchange of correspondence, State Department sources said that it is clear that the Department will support the Nasser regime for election to the Security Council.
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