White House is Against Inviting Ben Gurion and Nasser to Washington

The White House is opposed to inviting Egyptian and Israeli leaders to Washington to discuss their dispute with President Eisenhower “while Israel forces remain on Egyptian territory.” This was revealed today in an exchange of letters between Rep. Victor L. Anfuso, New York Democrat, and Bryce N. Harlow, Administrative Assistant to the President.

Rep. Anfuso, who made the letters public, suggested that President Eisenhower call a conference in Washington between President Nasser of Egypt and Prime Minister David Ben Gurion of Israel to discuss their dispute in his presence. In response to Rep. Anfuso’s suggestion, Mr. Harlow wrote: “It appears doubtful that a moment when Israel forces remain on Egyptian territory would be an auspicious time to attempt to bring the President of Egypt and the Prime Minister of Israel together at a meeting with the President.”

Five Republican Congressmen joined today in a telegram to Secretary of State Dulles urging that until Egypt has begun to negotiate disputed issues in good faith, the United States oppose “any further one-sided UN action calling upon Israel to make further unconditional withdrawals of here forces which may prejudice her national survival.”

The Congressmen were part of a Republican faction which last year sought unsuccessfully to persuade Secretary Dulles to sell U. S. jet fighter planes to Israel. Signatories of the telegram sent today, were Representatives Hugh Scott and James G. Fulton, Pennsylvania; Kenneth B. Keating and Edmund P. Radwin, New York, and Albert P. Morano, Connecticut.

Secretary Dulles, replying to a proposal by Senator Wayne Morse, Oregon Democrat, that the Eisenhower Doctrine be enlarged with a view to seeking agreement of the Arabs and Israelis to accept a United Nations police force and establish a buffer zone along the Arab-Israel borders, reiterated his stand that it would not be advantageous to tie the Arab-Israel problem to the Eisenhower Middle East plan.