There is no conflict in the giving of American arms to Jordan and the American policy of preventing an Arab-Israel arms race, State Department spokesman Lincoln White told the press today. He said that the State Department was convinced that the $10,000,000 in arms to be supplied by the United States to Jordan will be used only for internal security and self-defense.
Mr. White indicated that the State Department sees only Egypt and Israel affected by a United Nations resolution calling on nations to withhold arms from the Near East. He said that absolutely no U.S. arms are supplied to Syria. That country obtains its military supplies from Soviet Russia. He did not know if any arrangement is being made for the United States to train Jordanian forces.
It was learned meanwhile that the $10,000,000 arms grant will cover arms to be procured for Jordan in England, Existing Jordanian equipment is of British manufacture. Informed sources reported that Jordan was anxious to obtain late model American or British jet fighter aircraft. Since April a total of $20.000,000 in economic aid and $10,000,000 in arms has been granted to the Arab kingdom.
King Hussein of Jordan said in a U.S. News and World Report interview released here today that the United Nations Emergency Force should not be stationed at the Straits of Tiran. He said “this is because Sharm el Sheikh and all those other places are Egyptian territory.” The King accused Egyptian President Nasser of supporting a plot against him but nevertheless supported the Egyptian position on the Gulf of Akaba issue. He made clear that he considers his Arab Legion primarily as a weapon against Israel.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
