Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-07

with the Soviet Union. He
warned that differences between
Middle East peoples probably
would increase in proportion to
any spread of Soviet influence
or infiltration in those areas. BY
the same token, he continued,
conditions and attitudes in that
part of the world would be i'm
proved by the influence of the
Presidents program because it
not only would help the indi-
vidual countries but also serve
as a strong deterrent to Soviet
moves. he said.
Representative Morgan, Demo-
crat of Pennsylvania, wanted to
know about the present as well
as probable long range reaction
, of the Arab countries toward the
Presidents proposals.
Initial Reaction UnfavOrable
4 Mr.. Dulles said the initial re-
action of the Arab countries was
unfavorable. Those countries re-
ceived their first information
from CommuniSt-controlled ra-
dio broadcasts which grossly mis-
represented the program. he said.
THE atmosphere now is be-
coming markedly improved, he
continued. II have reason to be-
lieve it will be quite generally
approved in the area the better
1t is understood. The purpose of
this program is to help protect
the territorial integrity and in
dependence of those countries.
I believe those Arab countries
will realize that this has been the
consistnt policy of the United
States. We have to make unmis-
takably clear that we have no
intent to restore or prolong CO.
loniahsm.
Mr.. Dulles told the committee
he disliked the often-heard term,
filling up the vacuum" as APP
piled to the Middle East. He
said he could understand why
Arab peoples objected to the
idea that any sort of political
vacuum exists in their countries.
If any vacuum does exist"
Mr.. Dulles said. "it must be filled
by the countries themselves. We
do not want to move in and
dominate those countries"
Work Through Pact Suggested
Representative Chiperfield, Re-
publican of Illinois, ranking
minority member of the COM
mittee, asked Mr.. Dulles whether
the administration had consid-
cred working through the
Baghdad pact" rather than move
somewhat unilaterally as pro-
posed in the Presidents message
last Saturday.
Mr.. Dulles replied that the
administration gave long and
extended consideration to the
idea of recommending that the
United States join the Baghdad
pact. He indicated, however,
that, the idea was abandoned
mainly because the Baghdad
pact "unhappily" has become
a symbol not only of opposition
to Soviet inroads but also be-
cause adherence might do what
we precisely want to avoid and
might tend to accentuate differ
ences between some peoples
within the Middle East area"
AS additional members of the
committee grasped an oppor-
tunity to question Mr.. Dulles,
the queries became considerably
broader and sharper.
Mr.. Dulles said in reply to a
question by Representative Full
ton. Republican Of Pennsylvania,
that the administration has mo
hard and fast views" on whether
the resolution embodying the
Presidents program should have
a definite cutoff date.
The resolution now provides no
specific termination date and
presumably could continue the
same authorization beyon d
President Eisenhower's term.
This has caused some citicism in
Congress. Mr.. Dulles said Con-
gress was free to make any pro-
vision it wished and in the past
has occasionally set termination
dates by joint resolution which a
President could not veto.
Mr.. Dulles was accompanied
to the hearing by Admiral Ar
/