Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden today revealed in the House of Commons that 35 members of Israel’s armed forces and 134 members of the armed forces of the Arab states are receiving military training in Britain. He expressed the opinion that Britain should continue to give this training.
In the House of Lords, Lord Strabolgi today asked why Israel is not a member of the sterling bloc. He pointed out that Palestine, under the mandate, had been a member. Viscount Swinton, replying for the government, said: “This arrangement was brought to an end shortly before the termination of the mandate in May, 1948. No occasion has yet arisen to consider the question of admitting Israel to the sterling area.”
Lord Strabolgi then said: “May I ask when this matter will receive attention of the government in view of the economic situation and its importance not only to Israel and the East generally, but to our own interests as well?” To this Viscount Swinton replied: “It certainly will receive consideration when it arises. As long as sterling balances are held in Israel, there is consultation. “
Lord Strabolgi also wanted to know whether Egypt has given any indication of its intention to comply with the U. N. Security Council’s resolution ordering unhampered passage of Israel-bound ships through the Suez Canal. Marquess Reading, replying for the government, said that no such indication was given. To the question as to whether the British Government will tolerate “this breach of international use of the Suez Canal indefinitely, ” Marquess Reading said that Britain does not wish at the present “to extend the area of dispute” with the Egyptian Government.
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.
