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Britain Sees Renewed Arab-israel War if British Troops Leave Jordan

July 31, 1958
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The fear that a collapse in Jordan might bring about an attempt on the part of Israel to enter the section of Palestine now held by Jordan to strengthen its own border positions was expressed in British circles here today.

This feeling, it was Indicated, was conveyed by the British Government to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles during his brief stay In London this week. It was presented as an argument against withdrawing U.S. troops from Lebanon while British troops remain In Jordan.

Reports in the press here today said that British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told Secretary Dulles that American troops must remain in Lebanon as long as the British troops remain in Jordan, otherwise the possibility exists of a renewed Israel-Arab war.

The anti-Israel speech delivered yesterday in the House of Lords by Lord Attlee, former British Prime Minister In the Labor government, evoked considerable criticism today In Labor Party circles. Lord Attlee urged Britain to stand firm on its position with regard to Israel and said that from the point of view of purely British interests the creation of Israel was an erroneous policy. However, he added that since the Jewish State did exist, Britain could not allow Israel “to be swept away.”

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