Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-30
Both Sides of Street

one cannot nelp but make
some pertinent comment on
the statement which appeared
in your editorial of october "a.
entitled Both Sides of the
Street."
I refer to the statement, not
based on fact, that Western
support of Israel has done
much to fan the fires of Arab
nationaliSm." A little study of
history would warrant the con-
clusion that the desire for ma
tionaiism among the Arabs
was very apparent and has
been on the upsurge long be-
fore the state of Israel came
into existence. Spain, France
and England have had their
hands full from the period Of
the First World War to the
present day because Of their
colonial policies in North
Africa. The so-called Arab ma
tionalism of the Arab League
is a screen for personal ambi-
ton of Small-time dictators.
The fact is that the leading
spirit at the present time, Col.
NasSer, is interested in advance
ing his own ambition, and one
proof Of this is that when Jor-
dan asked Iraq for military
help, Mr. Nasser did not like it,
and he made it known to Jor-
dan. He was afraid that he
would be deprived, in a small
measure, Of his so-called lead
ership.
AS for blaming western sup
port Of Israel for Russian PEN
etration and the threat to our
oil interests" is The Star so
naive as to believe that our oil
interests will be threatened? A
cursory examination of what
has happened since America.
England and Russia penetrated
the Arabian oil fields, and this
goes back to the turn Of the
century, will disclose the fact
that these three powers have
been more or less engaged In a
struggle since 1919 to procure
the oil concessions of Iran,
Iraq and Arabia. This also has
been going on since long before
Israel became q state. And it
is hardly to be expected that
the sheikS and other Arabian
heads. who control the oil
fields, are going to give up
hundreds Of millions Of dollars
in oil royalties because Of little
Israel.
We ought to be realistic
about the whole situation and
stop using Israel as q whipping
boy for everything that hap
pens in the Middle East.
Abe Shefferman.
Arab propaganda against
Israel and the West blames all
the ills Of the Middle East on
the creation of that state. This
is one of those surface general
izations which completely dis
torts history. ignores facts and
plays directly into the hands
of the Communists. No student
of Middle East affairs and no
American statesman. even in
the heat of a political cam
paign. would make or indorse
such a glib generality.
It is difficult. therefore, to
believe that you intended to
repeat this scapegoat propa-
ganda in your editorial of Oc-
tober "a, entitled Both Sides
of the Street" Support for
Israel is not a partisan issue
in this campaign. and Mr..
Stevenson is not alone in
stressing the Importance Of
Israel to the defense of the
West. This Importance has
been affirmed by President
Eisenhower. Secretary Of State
Dulles and by both major po-
litical parties. The administra-
ton has repeatedly declared
that Israel's independence and
integrity is in the best inter-
ests Of the United States.
Our mutual security pro-
gram was designed to help and
encourage such free countries
as Israel in the cold war, and
we would be helping ourselves
II we brought Israel promptly
into that mutual security pro-
gram along with the other SO
nations receiving American
military aid.
3. Hauser.
Your rather querulous edi-
torial. Both Sides OF the
Street" on Nj. Stevenson's
Madison Square Garden adj
dress asks what he would have
done about some Of the for
eign crises he accuses the Re-
publicans Of botching. It Is
only fair 10 give him time to
say FIRST what he would not
have done. He would not have
shipped arms secretly TO the