INVITATIONS TO AMERICA

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28179, 18 January 1957, Page 11

INVITATIONS TO AMERICA

Arab, African And Eastern Leaders

Press Assoctatlon—Copyngnt) (Rec. 10.40 p.m.)

•n, TT WASHINGTON, January 16. . Ine united States Government will iss “ e a series of invitations to Arab, African and Middle Eastern leaders as part of an oyer-all policy to conteract the establishment of a hostile Soviet-backed axis in the Middle East area, it was reported today. Arrangements have so far been completed for conferences m Washington with King Ibn Saud, of Saudi Arabia, beginning on January 30, Iraq’s nnd'' nr Pr ck Ce i Eml xTAo dul Ilah ’ ear,y in February, and Dr. Charles Malik, the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, some time in the next few weeks. State Department officials declined formal discussion of specific prospects for meetings with leaders from the Middle East.

. j highly-placed source said that at no stage had the Lnited States regarded the Eisenhower D ,°f « e Z°, r M,dd . le East as Washington’s complete Middle East policy.

State Department officials avoided using the word “policy” as the doctrine was regarded as only part of the United States approach to the Middle East problem.

It was reported that there had been no renewal of serious talk in official quarters this week about a visit of Mr Macmillan, the new British Prime Minister.

United States officials, in response to questions today, expressed the view that Washington would welcome Mr Macmillan when a visit could be arranged. However, in view of the importance of such a visit, and the arrangements it would necessitate, it was not a likely prospect in the immediate future.

Firm arrangements were unlikely to be undertaken, these officials said, until after Congress had acted on the Eisenhower Doctrine.