The United States Government did not agree with West Germany’s decision to grant full diplomatic recognition to Israel because of fear in Washington of Arab responses, it was learned today from authoritative Government sources.
The Bonn announcement yesterday came as a surprise to the State Department, which had hoped that Bonn would not make such a move at this time. The Department is currently seeking to improve relations with the Arabs, especially with President Nasser of Egypt.
Asked if the State Department favored the normalization of diplomatic relations between West Germany and Israel, State Department spokesman Marshall Wright today declined to comment. He said “we consider this something for the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany to decide.” A highly-placed source within the Administration revealed that the Department’s main strategy now is aimed at mending relations with the Nasser regime and preventing a break between Bonn and Cairo.
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.
