MIDDLE EASTERN ARMS RACE

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 13

MIDDLE EASTERN ARMS RACE

Israel Puts Blaine On Russia

(Rec. 8 p.m.) JERUSALEM, Oct. 19. Responsibility for any possible war between Israel and the Arab States lay at Russia’s door. The Israeli Prime Mipister and Foreign Minister, Mr Moshe Sharett, said today. Mr Sharett was winding up a foreign affairs debate in the Israeli Parliament.

The recent arms deal between Egypt and Czechoslovakia was not concluded on the initiative of either country, he said. Mr Sharett accused Russia of the first step—a political one—to offer Soviet bloc arms to Egypt. It was afterwards that the deal was dressed in the mantle of a commercial transaction, he said.

Mr Sharett yesterday demanded arms for Israel and a Western Defence pact to counteract Czechoslovakia’s arms sale to Egypt. But a defence pact was no substitute for arms, he said. In London, the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Northern Ireland called on statesmen of the world to prevent an arms race in the Middle East. The call came in a statement which said: “The supply of dangerous weapons by countries of the Eastern Bloc to Egypt, in addition to what she is receiving from other sources, constitutes a serious threat to the peace of the world. “The Arab States have made it clear on numerous occasions that when the time is opportune their military strengths will be used to attack Israel.”

Duke to Appear in Film.— The Duke of Edinburgh will appear in a film to back a nation-wide cinema appealon behalf of Britain’s sports fields, it was announced today. He is president of the Playing Field* Association.— London, -October 19.