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1956: United States

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Soviet-American Relations.

Relations between the United States and the Soviet Union did not improve significantly during the year 1956. The 'open skies' inspection plan which had been consistently advocated by President Eisenhower was virtually vetoed by the Soviet leaders early in the year. The liberation of the Soviet satellites, also urged by the President, was likewise turned down by Russia. When an 8.5 per cent cut in the 1956 military budget was announced by the Kremlin it was regarded largely as a paper reduction.

It was in the area of the Middle East, however, where the tension seemed to be most pronounced through the year. The situation there was made much more explosive by the efforts of the Western Powers to create a defense system in the area, and by the Arab-Israel conflict. The Baghdad Pact had deeply split the Arab world, while the British reinforcing of Cyprus caused much opposition. The United Nations Security Council censured Israel for its retaliatory acts against Arab border violence.

In view of these developments the United States, because of its position as the chief spokesman for the West, became concerned. The Eisenhower Administration indicated that it was moving toward a major reappraisal of policy in the area. A resolution sponsored by the United States, Great Britain, and France called for a censure of Israel for a flagrant violation of the truce with Syria, and warned that new violations might lead to further steps. Meanwhile Secretary of State Dulles opened talks with the British and French ambassadors on a common policy in the Middle East.

Just prior to the Washington visit of British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden in January, Premier Bulganin of Russia sent a letter to President Eisenhower through Soviet Ambassador Georgi Zarubin, in which he strongly urged an improvement in Soviet-American relations through a 20-year treaty of friendship and co-operation, but no mention was made of disarmament.

President Eisenhower in his reply raised the question whether going through a treaty-making procedure might not work against the cause of peace by causing the illusion that a stroke of the pen had achieved a result which in fact could be obtained only by a change of spirit.

British-American Statement.

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