Internal consultations on the Arab-Israel situation were held at the State Department today with Henry A. Byroade, American Ambassador to Egypt, participating. The staff talks were in preparation for the arrival here of Evelyn Shuckburgh, chief policy adviser on Middle Eastern affairs of the British Foreign Office.
British and American specialists on the Middle East will meet here on Wednesday immediately following Mr. Shuckburgh’s arrival in Washington. They will prepare information on Middle East problems that might be needed in the course of the talks between President Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Sir Anthony-Eden which are to open here on January 30.
State Department and British sources agree that the question of Arab-Israel peace will be discussed on Wednesday but indicate that no concrete plans have yet been advanced toward this end by either the United States or the United Kingdom. Both nations have ideas that might contribute toward Middle East peace, it was said. Definite proposals, however, will only emerge from the top-level meeting itself, according to sources representing both governments.
A reliable source has reported that Ambassador Byroade, who is in Washington for consultations, will see President Eisenhower in the near future to report on Middle East conditions. Mr. Byroade; according to this source, is urging that the United States either reject Israel’s arms list or postpone action on it. His view is said to be that a supply of American arms to Israel would upset American efforts to woo Egypt away from Communist influence and would increase chances of regional warfare.
British diplomatic sources here, meanwhile, disparaged reports of Arab-Israel peace plan to be effected within six months and allegations that Britain would seek American pressure on Israel aimed at securing Israel concessions. These sources maintained that such reports were “wholly fictional” or speculative at best. It was claimed that such matters are questions of high policy that will not emerge until Prime Minister Eden actually meets with President Eisenhower.
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