Secretary of State John Foster Dulles today, rejected, for the time being at least, a Congressional request that Israel be permitted to buy American arms to offset the flow of Communist munitions to Egypt. He made his views known in a reply to a letter presented to him by Republican members of the House of Representatives. It was learned from official sources that before issuing his statement, Mr. Dulles discussed it with President Eisenhower.
“The United States, “Mr. Dulles said, “recognizes that current developments could create a disparity in armed force between Israel and its Arab neighbors. However, we are not convinced that that disparity can be adequately offset by additional purchases of arms by the State of Israel. Israel has a population of under two million, whereas the Arab population amounts to tens of millions, and they apparently have been offered access to huge stores of Soviet bloc material. Under this circumstance the security of Israel can perhaps better be assured by means other than an arms race.”
Mr. Dulles pointed out that “the combined influence of the nations which would, under the United Nations Charter and the Tripartite Declaration, be against any armed aggression is a far more effective deterrent to any potential aggressor than any amount of arms which could be obtained by either side.” He argued that “the having in hand, by Israel, of equal or superior arms is not the only deterrent to aggression.”
“We do not exclude the possibility of arms sales to Israel, “the Secretary said. But it is our belief that the security of states in the Near East cannot rest upon arms alone but rather upon the international rule of law and upon the establishment of friendly relations among neighbors. We are actively working toward the establishment of such relations.”
U. S. POLICY EMBRACES PRESERVATION OF ISRAEL, DULLES DECLARES
The Secretary of State emphasized that “the foreign policy of the United States embraces the preservation of the State of Israel. It also embraces the principle of maintaining our friendship with Israel and the Arab states.” He reiterated the proposal he made last August 26, that the United States would participate in an international guarantee of “agreed frontiers” if the Arab states would agree to Israel’s frontiers. He also cited the statement issued February 1 at the conclusion of the Eden-Eisenhower talks on the Middle East.
“The problems of this area, “Mr. Dulles stated, “must be studied in the larger context of the free world’s unceasing struggle against international Communism.” He added that he had no hesitation in declaring that “the United States seeking for itself to avoid involvement in war, is earnestly striving as a friend of both Israel and its Arab neighbors” to relieve the present tension in the area. “If the political and economic developments should subsequently become such as to make Congressional action desirable or necessary, the President would, of course promptly communicate with the Congress,” he said
One point made by Mr. Dulles was that Israel was “a creation” of the United Nations and that “the Arab states are also members, and all are solemnly bound by that (United Nations) Charter to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force.” He asserted that “the United Nations organization is capable of providing many forms of protection.”
A spokesman for a Congressional group that met with Mr. Dulles and received the reply said the impression was given that if tripartite pursuit of a peaceful solution fails, Israel would be in a position to renew its arms application. He said that Secretary Dulles indicated to the group that certain secret activities on behalf of Arab-Israel peace might be under way.
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban today called on George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, “to call attention to the growing urgency with which we regard the arms situation.” He later reported that he told Mr. Allen “this matter has complete priority” as far as Israel was concerned.
Mr. Eban also elicited additional information on the Eden-Eisenhower meetings. He said he obtained a general idea of the thinking of the signatories of the communique which was issued at the conclusion of the Washington talks.
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.
