Evening star., 1951-10-17
AchesonA Announces U.S.. Support
OF Britain in Egyptian Dispute;
Suez Area BristIes With Guns
Cairo Abrogotion
Of Treoty Invalid,
Secretary Insists
By Gornett D. Homer

W SotuStt y. flOTUeT
The United States support
Great Britain's stand In upholdinI
her position in the Suez Cana
zone against Egyptian pressure
Secretary of State Acheson sale
today.
Mr.. Acheson called on Egypt tt
reconsider its action abrogatins
treaties with the British and re-
jecting Western proposals for 6
joint Mid-East defense alliance.
While voicing American support
for Britain's legal position in the
strategic Suez Canal area. Mr.
Acheson refused to speculate at a
new conference .on whether
American armed forces might
back up the British.
Says British Are There Legally.
He brushed aside questions
about exactly what may be in
volved in the United States sup
port of the British stand, saying
he could not speculate on specific
measures.
But he said the United States
considers that British troops are
in the Suez Canal zone legally and
that they have a right to maintain
their position.
Mr.. Acheson warned the Egyp-
tians against "carelessly" precipi-
tating events (which can have no
constructive end but which by
their nature create those elements
of confusion and weakness which
tempt aggression"
Statement by Acheson.
The text of Secretary Acheson's S
statement follows:
1T is with genuine regret that
the United States Government re-
ceived the notification on October
is of the rejection by the
Egyptian government Of the pro-
posals presented to it on October
13 by the United States, France
Turkey and the United Kingdom
This government has noted with
surprise that the Egyptian gov
ernment rejected proposals OF
such Importance without having
given them the careful and con-
Sidered deliberation which they
merited.
These proposals were formu-
lated by the nations interested in
the welfare and security of the
Middle East after the most inten-
sive and thorough consideration
OF the special problems of the
area. The invitation to join with
the other sovereign nations of the
free world in a joint and cooper
ative effort to make the world
safe from aggression was wholly
consistent with the independence
and sovereignty of Egypt.
Hopes for Reconsideration.
Vigilance in protecting the
liberties we enjoy is the respon-
sibility of every nation of the free
world. The spirit of responsibility
to others requires that no nation
carelessly precipitate events which
can have no constructive end but
which by their nature create those
elements of confusion and weak
ness which tempt aggression.
ut is the hope of the United
States Government that Egypt
will carefully reconsider the course
OF action on which it has en-
barked and will recognize that its
own interest will be served by
joining the other nations of the
free world in assuring the defense
OF the Middle East against a COM
mon danger.
"The United States Govern
ment must reaffirm it's belief that
the action of the Egyptian gov
ernment with respect to the An
glo-Egyptian treaty of 1896 and
the agreements of 1899 regarding
the Sudan is not in accord with
proper respect for international
obligations.
For it's part. the United States
Government considers the action
Of the Egyptian government to be
without validity.
1T is the sincere hope of the
United States that great re-
straint will be shown in the pres
ent situation and that the obliga-
tion OF all nations towards the
preservation of world law and
order will be respected"
Mr.. Acheson told questioners
that the Mideast alliance pro-
posals are being discussed with
other governments in the area.
including Israel.
Hostility between many of the
Arab states and Israel remains a
point OF tension in the area. But
Mr.. Acheson said that if the Arab
states and Israel would Join in
the proposed defense arrangement
1t would be great bulwark to the
peace and security of the whole
Middle East.