<--PREV Doc #146  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #148 Document #147; April 16, 1953 To Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Series: EM, AWF, Name Series The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIV - The Presidency: The Middle Way Part I: Charting a New Course; January 1953 to April 1953 Chapter 2: "A number of misunderstandings": Party and International Struggles   Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: May I assure you that my Administration will follow a policy that is both fair and friendly toward Israel.1 With regard to your specific inquiry, my staff advises me that the Mutual Security Program aid to Israel in this current 1953 fiscal year is $73 million, and that, while the precise figures have not been finalized, it is anticipated that a recommendation of a comparable magnitude will be made to the Congress in May for the 1954 fiscal year. In the current fiscal year, the total aid to the Arab countries of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon combined is approximately $21 million. In addition, a grant is made to the United Nations in the amount of $50 million for the Arab Refugee Program. It is our objective to establish stable conditions of peace in the Near East and to develop desirable trade between the nations of that area with improved conditions for the people and strengthened defenses against external aggression.2 Sincerely 1 The late President's widow had written on April 4 (AWF/N) to note with concern rumors that there was to be a change in American policy toward Israel. "I recognize the fact that there must be equality of treatment by the government for Arab states and for Israel," she said, "but I do not think it should be considered that, because Israel receives more money from private sources in this country, any aid from the government should be curtailed." 2 For further developments see no. 153. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, 16 April 1953. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 147. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/147.cfm <--PREV Doc #146  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  First Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #148

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