U.S. Warns Egypt and Israel Against War; Threatens Stern Action

The State Department officially announced today that Israel and Egypt had been warned of stern action by the United States against any side that starts a war. They were told that the U. S. Government “would be very favorably disposed to the side which convinces us that it desires to maintain peace.”

State Department spokesman Lincoln White said the American position was that it would be “utter folly to start a war.” It was indicated in other quarters that if an Arab-Israel war should break out, economic sanctions would be used against either or both parties; also that the American fleet based in Italy and British Mediterranean naval forces might be ordered to blockade the ports of Egypt or Israel, or both.

It was learned here today in government circles that, in keeping with the views expressed yesterday by President Eisenhower and to avoid an Arab-Israel arms race, the State Department will restrict American sales of defensive arms to Israel to a minimum. Official sources said the State Department is aware of heavy Communist arms shipments arriving in Egypt, but nevertheless remains convinced that Israel military strength will continue for some time to be superior to that of Egypt.

Defense Department experts have advised the State Department that it would take from one to three years before Egyptian military training will reach a level necessary for effective use of Communist equipment, especially jet planes and submarines. Therefore, the State Department advised President Eisenhower that there is no great urgency to Israel’s pleas. The amounts of munitions to be sold Israel for “legitimate self-defense” is therefore expected to be correspondingly small.