484A.118/2–1350
The Israeli Ambassador (Elath) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to refer to our conversation of Tuesday, January 31,1 and to your suggestion that I might further communicate with you in writing on the following two matters:
The views of my government on the situation arising from Arab rearmament and from the propaganda in favor of a renewal of the war with Israel current in the Arab countries; and
The request by my government for the granting of licenses for and assistance in its purchase of arms for defensive purposes.
[Page 737]This letter deals only with the first subject. A list of arms required will be submitted separately.2
As I had the honor to explain orally to you, Mr. Secretary, my government views with growing concern the rapid and large scale rearmament now in progress in all Arab states having common boundaries with Israel, especially in Egypt. For the reasons indicated below, this rearmament cannot, in relation to Israel, be considered as confined within the limits of legitimate self-defense. On the contrary, it constitutes a great menace to Israel’s security. Arab rearmament began almost immediately after the cessation of the war against Israel. It has continued without interruption. In addition to completed purchases, negotiations are under way for further large scale acquisitions of important armaments.
The scale of Arab rearmament can best be measured by the vast increase in expenditures for military purposes.
According to Radio Damascus, the Syrian Minister of Finance announced on February 9, 1950, that army expenses during 1949 amounted to 65,000,000 pounds sterling. He added that the Syrian Minister of Defense obtained a loan to cover this expenditure.
In Egypt seventy-two million Egyptian pounds have been allotted for a three-year rearmament plan, of which ten million Egyptian pounds have been set aside for the establishment of an armament industry.
According to official Egyptian sources, the sum allocated for national defense for the budget year 1949–1950, is fifty-two million Egyptian pounds, which is 28% of the total budget. It constitutes an increase of 220% over the budget of 1948–1949 which provided twenty-four million Egyptian pounds for the same purpose, and an increase of 900% over the year 1945–1946, when the national defense budget of Egypt amounted to 5.8 million Egytian pounds, or 8% of her total budget.
It is not only the scale of Arab rearmament which is viewed with great apprehension by Israel. My government is especially perturbed by the formation of offensive units and by the character of arms being acquired.
In Egypt a self-contained armored division has recently been set up. When completed, it will consist of three regiments, each one equipped with sixty-four heavy tanks, and of a mobile reserve. Some [Page 738] of its elements were paraded through the streets of Cairo in November 1949.
For the equipment of this division, Egypt has purchased two hundred Sherman tanks, mostly in Italy and in other European countries. She is now negotiating in Belgium for the purchase of another sixty-five Sherman tanks. Great Britain is supplying one hundred Centurion tanks, of which forty have already been delivered. It should be noted that these Centurion tanks are most modern weapons, developed by Great Britain since the end of World War II.
The purchase by Egypt of aircraft must be viewed in conjunction with the formation of this powerful striking force. The acquisition of jet fighters, appropriate for air support of tank formations, assumes special significance in this connection. Egypt ordered in Great Britain about a hundred deHavilland jet fighters, as well as a number of Gloucester Meteor VIII’s. In 1949 Egypt also acquired forty-six Spitfire fighter planes, eighteen Macchi, and four Fiat Italian fighter planes, and, from Switzerland, twelve four-engine Halifax bombers. The latter can certainly not be considered as defensive weapons. Egypt purchased at the same time considerable quantities of phosphorous triplex explosive bombs as well as incendiary, anti-personnel, and high explosive bombs.
These forces represent the striking arm of a well-balanced army, the whole of which is being systematically developed and expanded. Egyptian agents purchased in Great Britain considerable quantities of twenty-five-pounder field artillery and seventeen-pounder guns. A plant for the production of small arms has been acquired from Krupp in Germany and a cartridge casing production plant from Manurhin in France. An explosives factory has been acquired from a Swedish firm. In addition, negotiations are under way with firms in these countries and in Italy for the acquisition of other arms production plants and for the establishment of a factory for aircraft bodies. Egypt is sending workers to Europe for special training in arms industries and is recruiting foreign craftsmen, military specialists, and instructors to serve in Egypt.
The Egyptian navy too is being strengthened. On December 7, 1949, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty announced in the House of Commons that “six frigates have been transferred to Egypt during the last few months and the transfer of a seventh is under negotiation.” In reply to a supplementary question whether these frigates had been transferred unconditionally or whether any undertaking had been given that they would be used for defensive purposes only, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty stated that “that question will have to be put on the Order Paper.” Furthermore, Egypt purchased [Page 739] in Great Britain one destroyer, one sloop, and one corvette. Four one-man torpedo vessels (type Maialy) and four motor torpedo boats have been purchased in Italy. Negotiations are under way in Great Britain for the purchase of another twelve motor torpedo boats.
These additions to Egyptian naval strength must be viewed in the light of the length and vulnerability of Israel’s coast line, with her dependence on the import of vital items of consumption and production. Egypt has made no secret of the fact that her military planning, in case of renewed war, includes a naval blockade against Israel.
Rearmament by other Arab states, though on a smaller scale, shows characteristics similar to that of Egypt. While Egypt has set up an armored division, Syria is organizing an armored brigade, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is forming an armored regiment.
Syria, which previously had no air force of her own, is acquiring jet planes and heavy tanks. Thirty Sherman tanks have already been purchased for the equipment of her armored brigade. In Great Britain she acquired fourteen Gloucester Meteor jet fighters although—it should be noted—Great Britain is under no treaty obligation to supply arms to Syria. Furthermore, Syria purchased twenty-two Fiat fighter planes and forty Staghound armored cars, the latter in addition to the eighty armored cars she possessed in 1949. Guns of all calibers up to 155 mm. were acquired in France.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has received, from Great Britain, two hundred seventy armored cars, most of them of the Marman Harrington type, and has ordered another two hundred.
The above details of the reorganization and purchase of arms undertaken by Israel’s neighbors illustrate the scale of their present rearmament. There is no doubt that these armies will become incomparably stronger than those which attacked Israel in May 1948 and will acquire a far greater striking power. As an example, it may be mentioned that in 1949 Egypt owned twelve Sherman tanks. She now has two hundred twelve and another sixty-five on order. In addition, she ordered one hundred Centurion tanks. In 1949 she had one gunboat; she now has ten. Jordan, which in 1949 had one hundred twenty armored cars, has purchased two hundred seventy armored cars and ordered another two hundred.
My government can therefore not agree to the suggestion that Arab rearmament does not at present exceed the requirements of legitimate self-defense. The pace, scale, and nature of present Arab armament bespeak its aggressive intent.
My government contends further that this rearmament cannot be judged without consideration of the temper of Arab leadership and public opinion as reflected in public statements, official broadcasts, and in the press. At a time when the overwhelming consensus in Israel, [Page 740] as expressed in the Knesset, in the press, and in authoritative statements by political leaders, has been promoting the cause of peace and cooperation with Israel’s Arab neighbors, a systematic campaign has been conducted for months in the Arab countries to whip up the spirit of revenge and incite the masses to start the second round of a Holy War against Israel. Quotations from Arab propaganda material are so plentiful that only a small selection can be given here. They are appended to this letter.3
It has been contended that these inciting statements should not be taken too seriously since they may well be for internal consumption only. However, a state of affairs where, in order to please public opinion, not only Arab journalists but Arab leaders and responsible officials use warlike language and incite to implacable hatred against the state of Israel is bound to give rise to grave anxiety. The Arab leaders are giving impetus to forces which might not later be controllable. It must be remembered that similar bellicose campaigns were the prelude to the first aggression against Israel. History shows only too clearly the fateful results of intertwined aggressive propaganda and armament programs.
In conclusion, may I be permitted, Mr. Secretary, to sum up my government’s views:
The government of Israel is deeply disturbed by the fact that the Arab states have begun an armaments race which endangers the security of Israel and jeopardizes the peace and stability of the Middle East. At the same time it deplores the expenditure for armament of huge sums urgently needed, in its opinion, for raising the standard of living and the general improvement of economic and social conditions in the entire area. My government has emphatically made clear and desires to reaffirm here that Israel has no intention of attacking any of her neighbors and that the achievement of a just and stable peace remains its primary concern.
The government of Israel notes with satisfaction that the government of the United States “would be quick to use all its influence within the United Nations and outside in attempting to prevent any renewal of hostilities.” It desires, however, to draw attention to its past experience when, despite the expressed resolve on the part of the government of the United States and of the United Nations, the invasion of Israel territory by Arab forces was not prevented and resulted in a costly and lengthy conflagration.
My government sincerely desires that an end be put to the armaments race in the Middle East and that the unchecked flow of arms to the Arab countries be stemmed. Conscious of the deep interest and [Page 741] concern of the United States in the preservation of peace and stability in the Middle East, my government respectfully requests that the government of the United States use its good offices in order to prevent the continuation of the present arms supplies to the Arab states.
The government of Israel, however, deems it inherently injust that while Arab countries are permitted to receive freely arms of all types from the United Kingdom and elsewhere, defensive armament is denied to the state of Israel. One-sided armament is not only discriminatory, it increases the temptation in the Arab states to embark upon aggressive campaigns. It may well be that no attack will come if the Arab states know that Israel is equipped to meet it. In view of the fact that Arab rearmament has already reached such a pitch as to constitute a serious and imminent danger to the security of Israel, my government has no alternative but to take all steps necessary for its protection.
The government of Israel, therefore, respectfully requests that the government of the United States lend its assistance to enable Israel to acquire in the United States those legitimate means of self-defense urgently needed for her security.
I avail myself of this opportunity, Mr. Secretary, to express renewed assurances of my highest consideration.
- See Secretary Acheson’s memorandum of conversation, p. 712.↩
- The list of arms required by the Israeli Government “for defensive purposes” was submitted by Ambassador Elath in his note 1239/50, also dated February 13, to the Secretary of State. It called for varying quantities of machine guns, anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank guns, howitzers, tanks and armored cars, rifles, rockets, launchers, and radar and communication equipment. The list also contained a request for 18 jet fighters.↩
- Some seven pages of “Quotations from the Arab Press and Radio” are not printed.↩