U.S. Criticized in Congress for Granting Arms to Iraq

Rep. Louis B. Heller told the House of Representatives today that “unfortunately, our own country has recently embarked upon a policy of so-called ‘impartiality’ as between Jews and Arabs, which only serves the cunning purposes of the Arab States.” He cited the arms grant to Iraq and said “we are coddling the Arabs at the expense of Israel, our only true ally and friend in that area.”

Rep. Edward A. Garmatz, Maryland Democrat, called the attention of Congress to a resolution adopted by the Baltimore Zionist Council in protest against an Administration decision to provide Iraq with a free grant of American munitions.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee today directed its attention to the Arab-Israel situation in a meeting which was held behind closed doors. Economic and military aid to the Near Eastern area and strategic considerations were discussed.

The State Department made known that Iraq, in consideration of the U. S. arms grant awarded it, has “undertaken no commitments with regard to Turkey and Pakistan.” This was learned today when Rep. Jacob K. Javits made public an answer sent him by the State Department in reply to a series of questions he put to the Department concerning the Iraq arms problem.

The State Department told Rep. Javits that “should there be developments in the Near East showing that the policies of any government in that area receiving our military aid are no longer based on considerations of legitimate self-interest, the United States Government would immediately reassess not only its aid program, but its basic policy toward the countries concerned.”

Asked by Rep. Javits how the arms grant would affect the tripartite declaration of 1950 to preserve the integrity of Arab-Israel borders, the Department replied that it does not consider that the arms grant to Iraq in any way affects the tripartite declaration.