Secretary of State John Foster Dulles indicated today that the United States will not be drawn into competition with the Soviet Union for Arab favor at Israel’s expense. Speaking at a press conference, he said that Moscow might try to win Arab friendship by proposing a “tough” resolution against Israel at the United Nations Security Council, but that there was no reason to fear American competition in that respect.
Mr. Dulles made this statement in reply to a question about his views on the anxiety prevalent in Israel that Russia and the United States might bid each other up at tomorrows session of the UN Security Council on Syria’s complaint against Israel’s retaliatory raid on Syrian positions in the Lake Tiberias area.
The Secretary of State emphasized that the American views on Arab-Israel peace remain “very much” as set forth in his August 26 speech. He indicated that these views would be advanced when the Anglo-American talks on the Middle East situation start at the end of this month between President Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden. Asked if any formula has been discussed with Britain for Arab-Israel peace, Mr. Dulles said that no specific formula has been acted upon, and added that the had no doubt that the Arab-Israel peace issue would be a main topic in the forthcoming talks.
U.S. WILL GIVE ISRAELIS ARMS LIST A “FRESH LOOK,” SAYS DULLES
Mr. Dulles said that no decision has been taken on Israel’s arms list submitted to the State Department after the arms deal between Egypt and Communist countries. However he stated that the U.S. Government would give the matter a “fresh look” after the UN Security Council nets on the Israel Syrian clash at Lake Tiberias. He made it clear that the United States would not act on the Israel application for arms before Security Council action has been completed.
Asked under what conditions the United States might adhere to the Bagdad Pact, Secretary Dulles replied that this country would join the pact when and if it would contribute to general security and not represent an isolated action. He said that United States was sympathetic toward the pact, which he described as his own concept, but added that this country has no particular views on further development of the pact structure and has not urged any particular country to join.
The Secretary of State stressed that there is no reason to believe that the British Government has formulated a reported coordinated joint aid plan for the Middle East region, involving Anglo American cooperation. He indicated doubt that the British have such a plan and said the United States knew nothing of it.
Mr. Dulles revealed that Henry A. Byroade, U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, who has been summoned to Washington, presented a report to him on the Egyptian situation, the Aswan Dam project, and the Bagdad Pact. His presence in Washington enabled him to give a much fuller report than cables would permit, Mr. Dulles explained. Mr. Byroade will take part in preliminary talks on the Middle East situation which will start tomorrow with the participation of Assistant Secretary of State George V. Allen and British Foreign. Office expert Evelyn Shuckburgh.
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