No international embargo on the sale of arms to Israel was being urged by the State Department and no attempt was being made to prevent foreign countries from selling arms to Israel, Lincoln White, State Department spokesman, said today.
Mr. White emphasized that because of certain conditions applying to the United States, this country could not act on the Israel application for arms. Other countries, he said, would have to decide for themselves. He indicated that Secretary of State John Foster Dulles has neither urged other nations to provide Israel with arms nor dissuaded them from doing so. He said that he could not confirm reports that Mr. Dulles urged other Western nations to sell arms to Israel.
The State Department, Mr. White declared, continues to look to the United Nations in connection with implementation of the 1950 Tripartite Declaration objectives. He said the declaration was meant to be applied within or outside the United Nations. If the Soviets mean what they say about cooperation with the United Nations, he added, Middle East goals can be pursued within the international organization.
At the same time, Mr. White revealed that the State Department has received confirming reports that Czech munitions are on their way to Syria. He said information was received as far back as a month ago. Asked about the U.S. view of the seriousness of the Syrian-Communist arms, Mr. White said that so much had already been said nothing need be added.
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