Evening star., 1953-05-09
Secretary Dulles Trip


For the next three weeks Secretary of
State Dulles will be visiting part of the world
that is troubled but also of vital importance
in the power balance which is developing be-
tween the Communist and non-C Communist
portions of the globe. In that period the
Secretary will travel through twelve countries
from Egypt to PakiStan, from Greece to Saudi
Arabia, crisscrossing the land mass that
bridges three continents and Is populated by
more than $40 million people.
It will be the first time an American Sec
retary of State ever has toured the area, and
perhaps no time could be more propitious.
Virtually every one of the countries to be Wis
tied is in a state of f1ux as far as its own
immediate political and economic future is
concerned Most of them have looked, and some
still do, to the United States for friendship and
for genuine world leadership in the years just
ahead. without exception, although in varying
degrees of intensity, all of them look with fear
with the deepest suspicion upon Soviet
Russia, and with the greatest antipathy toward
communism as an theology.
The hopes which some of them have had
for American leadership have been dimmed by
certain events. The Arab states, in particular,
have interpreted American support for Israel
as antagonism toward them and their just
interests. With somewhat less bitterness, they
have disapproved American support for British
and French policies in the area and have de-
plored what they consider failure on the part
of the United States to have an independent
policy of it's own in that part of the world.
The issues which are contained within these
points Of view will be presented to Mr.. Dulles.
Leaving out the Iranian problem-the Sec
retary is not visiting Iran-Mr. Dulles will find
the two major international issues in the Middle
East. One is the drawn-out Arab-Israeli con-
flict, deadlocked in an uneasy armiStce that
is far from state of peace. The other is
the Anglo-Egyptian dispute over the future of
the Suez Canal Zone. Mr.. Dulles is making his
first stop in Cairo; his first official conference
with chief of state will be with Prime Min
lister Naguib, the military strong man who has
undertaken substantial governmental and social
reforms in Egypt The Arab-Israeli problem
and the current breakdown Of the Suez nego-
tiations undoubtedly will be discussed. It has
not been indicated whether Mr.. Dulles is car
rying with him concrete proposals on either OF
these issues, but it would be unfortunate if the
opportunity should be lost to find and to apply
some fresh and constructive thought to them.
The fact that Israel is the second country
on the Secretary'S itinerary will give him chance
to carry on Immediately with any suggestions
pertaining to the Arab-Israen impasse.
In South Asia, Mr. Dulles will visit both
India and Pakistan. AS far as the cold war is
concerned, the former has followed deliberate
course of neutrality" which often has seemed
unfriendly toward the West. Pakistan, par
ticularly since its former Ambassador to the
United States, Mohammed Ali, became Prime
Minister, has placed itself squarely on the
record favoring the cause of the NOM
Communist powers. Pakistan does have an
internal crisis in the form of threatened
wheat shortage late this year, and technical
mission from the United States is now en- route
there to survey the needs and possible means
Of meeting them.
While the relatively short time being
allotted for the trip precludes exhaustive studies
or conversations, Mr.. Dulles will have chance
to sample some on -the-spot feelings about the
troubles of the area. The experience should be
of value in the formulation Of future American
policy.