Secretary of State John Foster Dulles is expected to be asked for amplification of his views on the Middle East situation tomorrow when he holds his press conference but it was not known whether he would be prepared to elaborate pending receipt of responses from Israel and the Arab States.
Lincoln White, the State Department spokesman, said today that from all indications the Secretary’s proposals were under serious study by the interested countries. He indicated that the Department expected official responses.
The attention of the State Department was directed today by Israel Minister Reuven Shiloah to the most recent clashes in the Gaza vicinity. Mr. Shiloah called on George V. Allen, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, to discuss the “serious” Gaza developments and other Arab-Israel situations.
Senator James E. Murray, Montana Democrat, aligned himself today with Sen. Walter F. George, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who expressed agreement with the objectives of the Dulles proposals but feared that other nations would only offer token assistance. Sen. Murray warned that the United States would be willing to “take on some burdens in the interests of peace in the area” but asserted that “we can’t go it alone.”
JEWISH GROUPS WELCOME DULLES ACTION
Secretary of State Dulles was commended today by several Jewish organizations for his move to bring about an Arab-Israel peace. The American Jewish Committee, in a telegram, said it was “gratified by your statement on American policy in the Near East. It is a heartening declaration by which the United States is assuming the leadership in one of the most troubled areas of the world. It provides a basis for discussion by all interested parties who are sincere in their desire for a genuine and lasting peace.”
The administrative committee of B’nai B’rith, which is meeting at Starlight, Pa., adopted a resolution expressing gratification to Mr. Dulles over his statement on Middle East policy.
The American section of the Agudas Israel World Organization said the Dulles speech was “in line with the friendship traditionally extended by America towards Israel and towards all democratic nations. It is an outgrowth of the President’s ceaseless battle for securing peace all over the world.”
Louis Segal, head of the Farband and member of the Jewish Agency Executive, pointed out in an interview in Tel Aviv the role of the Jewish labor movement in influencing a change of American policy on Israel and said that the unified American Jewish stand on Israel had brought about a new, positive attitude. He termed the Dulles speech “A new and constructive conception of the Middle East.”
PROPOSAL WILL SATISFY NONE, LONDON TIMES SAYS
Press reaction here and abroad was varied. While all newspapers welcomed the initiative taken by Mr. Dulles, there was considerable disagreement as to the feasibility and effectiveness of his proposals. The Times of London said flatly that the Dulles statement is “likely to satisfy nobody in the Middle East.” It asserted that the terms of the proposals go no further than those offered by Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden last April and “meet none of Israel’s current requests.”
The paper bluntly declared that such proposals cannot be effective so long as “all the Arab governments from principle, interest and prejudice refuse to meet with Israel.” It frankly admitted that Britain cannot put pressure on the Arab States to force them to make peace with Israel. It further declared that the Arab States, not Israel, can offer Britain what Britain needs in the Middle East.
The Manchester Guardian declared editorially that the Dulles offer is a victory for Israel diplomacy even if the offer is upon conditions which the Israel Government may dislike but which it would be foolish to reject.
The New York Times said today that “Mr. Dulles’ initiative has the virtue that it brings a breath of fresh air and common sense to a set of problems that badly needs solution.” It warned that if this initiative is rejected, “the future is black indeed for both sides of this dispute, and the potentials for explosion in the Middle East will be more frightening than ever.”
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.
