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U.S. and British Foreign Secretaries Discuss Middle East Security

May 12, 1955
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Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. British Foreign Secretary Harold MacMillan and Turkish Deputy Minister M. Zorlu agreed during their meetings here to direct their immediate Middle East diplomacy toward strengthening the “northern tier” pact by further inducements to the Arab states to adhere to it, it was learned here today from informed circles.

The three statesmen congratulated themselves on the progress thus far in the Middle East and look to early Pakistan accession to the pact. This would provide added strength in their talks with the other Arab countries, especially Egypt which still remains cold to Western wooing. None of the participants in the Paris talks felt any need for early American direct participation in the “northern tier” pact which so far includes Britain, Iraq and Turkey. The position of Israel-other than its connection with the Middle East troubles that affect the security of the area-was not considered in any detail, it is understood.

France these informed circles stated, remains an observer of Western maneuvers in the Middle East, indicating only lukewarm support for the Western overtures to the Arab states, which continue to flood the North African countries with violently anti-French literature and news broadcasts. France for her own good reasons, finds it preferable to maintain a diplomatically “correct” relationship with the Arab countries. With Israel, however, France is on the best of terms and Israel’s relations with France can be said to be the warmest between her and any of the major Western Powers.

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