449. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the Under Secretary of State (Hoover)1
A matter of major importance which may come to a head while I am away2 is what we say to Sharett about the Israelis’ request for arms.
I suggested to George Allen that we might divide the list into two parts, namely, part one being items which are available for immediate delivery and item 2 matters which are not available for immediate delivery. The latter two include the tanks and planes which will only be available for delivery next year at various stages, beginning with the spring and running through several years.
The items available for immediate delivery are the less expensive items and items which are more distinctively of exclusive defensive use.
I am wondering whether, in view of the provision of the law and corresponding agreement with Israel that items shall not be used for aggression, we could not say to Israel that we will sell her now the presently available items which, broadly speaking, are not utilized before aggression, but that in view of the danger that there will be aggression, we are not prepared to commit ourselves now for the items which could be used for this purpose. We are, however, [Page 849] prepared to start to put these items in a state of readiness subject to the condition that intervening events or the then situation do not create a presumption of reasonable danger that the items will if then delivered be used for aggressive purposes.
It is quite true that these items such as tanks and planes could also be used for defensive purposes. However, we believe that our 1950 Declaration gives Israel reasonable assurance against itself being the victim of aggression and that under these circumstances we must be very careful in the delivery of dual purpose weapons, i.e., weapons almost equally available either for offense or defense.
Another phase of this matter was raised by Mr.Allen, who suggested we might ask Congress to pass a resolution endorsing the 1950 policy statement and authorizing the President to implement it.
This is, I think, worth considering, although I have a notion that it would arouse very considerable Arab antagonisms.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 784A.56/12–1255. Secret. Drafted by Dulles.↩
- According to Secretary Dulles’ Appointment Book, he left Washington on December 13 for Paris to attend meetings of the North Atlantic Council. (Princeton University Library, Dulles Papers)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩