Vice President Richard M. Nixon today issued a statement here announcing that he had received a cable from Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, who is now in Europe, expressing belief that “several steps can be taken” in the direction of bringing “a permanent and just peace between Israel and the Arab states,” and that he will assist in efforts to that end.
“I have noted during the past few days,” Mr. Nixon said in his statement, “that some of our political opponents, who apparently will stoop to anything in order to elect an anti-Eisenhower Congress, has engaged in a vicious whispering campaign designed to misrepresent the position of the President and Secretary of State Dulles with regard to our policy in the Near East.
“Just before Mr. Dulles left for Paris I discussed this problem with him. This morning I received a cable from Mr. Dulles in which he reaffirmed the position and the policy of this government that a permanent and just peace between Israel and the Arab states is ardently hoped for. He believes steps can be taken in that direction, and he will do all in his power to assist in such efforts to the end that permanent peace is reached in the Near East.
“He believes it is unwise to create such local military imbalances as might tempt extremists in any of the Near Eastern countries to attack each other. He vigorously emphasized that we shall constantly work toward the objectives of justice and peace in the Near East through the United Nations, and in addition our good offices are always available to assist in that body or outside of it in any move toward these objectives.
“In connection with Mr. Dulles’ statement it will be noted that the President himself spoke out vigorously along these same lines in his speech at New York last night. He said: ‘Our goal in the Near East, as elsewhere, is a just peace…and in helping to strengthen the security of the entire Near East, we shall make sure that any arms that we provide are devoted to that purpose, not to creating local imbalances which could be used for intimidation of, or aggression against, any neighboring nations. In every such arrangement we make with any nation, there is ample assurance that this distortion of purpose cannot occur.”
Vice President Nixon expressed confidence, in his statement, that “as Mr. Dulles’ diplomatic skill is applied to this troublesome area of the world, an early solution will be forthcoming.” Pointing out that Mr. Dulles in the past 20 months had spectacular success in solving similar tough problems in Southeast Asia, Trieste and Europe, Mr. Nixon said: “There is no doubt in my mind but that this same patient, firm diplomacy will have similar beneficial results as it is applied in the Near East.”
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