Editorial Note
The Department, on September 7, 6 a. m., sent a circular telegram to Ankara, Arab capitals, Brussels, The Hague, London, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem. The telegram gave the text of paragraph 1 and subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Secretary Acheson’s memorandum of September 1, page 1341, with very slightly altered wording. It then continued as follows: “In light of foregoing, questions re US policy should be answered as follows: In pursuance of recent action of UNSC and US support thereof, US Govt now prepared receive applications for license export arms Arab States and Israel for consideration on individual merits.” (711.00111 Armaments Control/9–749)
In a further circular telegram of October 24, 8:25 a. m., to Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus, and Tel Aviv for action and to Paris, London, and Jidda for information, the Department informed that the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949 failed to provide for United States military assistance to Near Eastern countries. Inasmuch as these countries would not even be entitled to United States Government procurement assistance under that Act, the Department suggested that they might wish to have recourse to the American commercial arms market. The export of arms purchased from such sources would be permitted “within the limitations of the policies stated by the US representative in the Security Council on August 4” (711.00111 Armament Control/10–2449). Regarding the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, see Mr. McGhee’s memorandum of August 16 to Mr. Berkner and footnote 2 to that memorandum, page 45; regarding Ambassador Austin’s statement, see the editorial note, page 1283.