ARMS FOR ISRAEL
EVERYBODY in the world except Mr. Dulles knows that a first-rate crisis is building up in, and over, the Middle East. It is painfully clear to everybody, except Mr. Dulles, not only that the Middle East might blow up at any moment but also that American dilatoriness and reluctance to look at the Middle East as it is impose the severest possible strain on Western unity. The news grows worse from day to day; and whatever else might be said about the French Prime Minister's recent outburst on the subject, his sudden access of irritation is only too understandable. In the presidential election year it is no doubt difficult for America either to act decisively or to approve of its allies' attempts so to do, but the steaming pot of nationalism in the Middle East will not obligingly go off the boil until Mr. Eisenhower has been reinstated or rejected. Western policies in and towards the Middle East are a labyrinthine confusion of commercial and national interests. against which conflict nothing is easier for Russia than to cut a fine figure as the disinterested friend of the Arabs. On the part of both the British and the Americans the problem of rethinking the whole question of the Western world's relations to the Arab States is Augean in its proportions, and no doubt the task of concerting their approaches will have to wait until America is rather less domestically preoccupied. But there is small wisdom in waiting for this if the Levant is likely to go up in flames in the interval. The time has come for Britain to let go the coat-tails of America. The best (and indeed the only) guarantee of peace in the Middle East is for Israel to have arms enough to inhibit Saudi Arabia, Egypt and its other Arab enemies against an attempt at annihilation. Israel's need for arms is urgent and Britain should answer it, and so regain the initiative which it is well fitted to exercise in that region. Sir Anthony can scarcely still imagine that we shall retain the respect of the Arab States by appeasing them. By supply- ing Israel with a sufficient balance of arms there is nothing to be lost but the certainty of war.
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