Modern History Sourcebook:
TASS:
Statement on the Eisenhower Doctrine, January 14 1957
The President of the United States of America, Mr. Dwight D. Eisenhower, on January 5
addressed a special message to Congress on the policy of the United States in the Middle
East countries. In his message, which abounds in anti-Soviet remarks, the President,
describing the present situation in the Middle East as "critical," demanded the
authority to use the armed forces of the United States in the Middle East at any moment be
might consider it necessary, without asking for the consent of Congress as is envisaged in
the country's Constitution. The President of the United States also demanded that he be
empowered to render military and economic "aid" to the countries of the Middle
East. It is envisaged, specifically, that 200 million dollars will be spent for
"economic support" to countries of that area.President Eisenhower's message runs counter to the principles and the purposes of the
United Nations and is fraught with grave danger to peace and security in the Middle East
area. . . .In his message to Congress the President of the United States speaks of the sympathy
which, he claims, the United States entertains for the Arab countries. Life, however,
shows that in actual fact the American ruling circles are setting themselves obviously
selfish aims in that area. It is a fact that when Egypt, as a result of the military
aggression of Britain, France and Israel, was threatened with the loss of her national
independence, the United States refused to pool its efforts with the Soviet Union in the
United Nations in order to take resolute measures to cut short the aggression. The primary
concern of the United States was not the defence of peace and the national independence of
the Arab countries, but the desire to take advantage of the weakening of Britain and
France in the Middle East to capture their positions.At present, when a favourable situation has developed in the Middle East and real
possibilities for consolidating peace and settling outstanding issues in that area have
been created, the government of the United States has come forward with a programme which
envisages flagrant interference by the United States in the affairs of the Arab countries,
up to and including military intervention. The aggressive trend of this programme and its
colonialist nature with regard to the Arab countries are so obvious that this cannot be
disguised by any nebulous phrases about the love for peace and the concern claimed to be
shown by the United States for the Middle East countries.It is permissible to ask: Of what love for peace do the authors of the "Eisenhower
doctrine" speak when the threat to the security of the Middle East countries emanates
precisely from member-states of N.A.T.O., in which the United States plays first fiddle?
What concern for the aforementioned countries can be in question when it is the United
States and its N.A.T.O. partners that regard those countries merely as sources of
strategic raw materials and spheres for the investment of capital, with the object of
extracting maximum profits? Is it not clear that the uninvited "protectors" of
the Middle East countries are trying to impose on that area nothing else but the regime of
a kind of military protectorate, and to set back the development of these countries for
manv years? . . .The United States ruling circles consider that the weakening of the positions of the
Anglo-French colonialists in the Middle East and the successes of the Arab countries in
consolidating their independence have produced a "vacuum," which they would like
to fill by their military and economic intervention in the internal affairs of those
countries. But what " vacuum" can be in question here? Since when do countries
which have liberated themselves from colonial oppression and have taken the road of
independent national development constitute a "vacuum"? It is clear that the
strengthening of the national independence of the Arab countries, the intensification of
their struggle against colonial oppression by no means create some kind of
"vacuum," but are a restoration of the national rights of the Middle East
peoples and constitute a progressive factor in social development. The United States tries
to present its policy as an anti-colonialist one. But it is not difficult to see the
falseness of these assertions, clearly designed to blunt the vigilance of the peoples in
the Middle East. The programme of the United States insistently stresses that the Middle
East must recognise its interdependene with the western countries, that is, with the
colonialists-specifically with regard to oil, the Suez Canal, etc. In other words, the
United States is stubbornly seeking to impose a "trusteeship" of the
colonialists on the peoples of the Middle East countries. . . .The authors of the colonialist programme try to sweeten it by a promise of economic
"aid" to the Middle East countries. Every intelligent person, bowever,
understands that in reality the United States is offering as charity to the peoples of the
Arab countries only a small fraction of what the American monopolies have received and are
receiving by plundering, by exploiting the natural wealth belonging to those countries.
The United States promises the countries of the Middle East 200 million dollars in the
financial years of 1958 and 1959, whereas in 1955 alone the American and British oil
monopolies extracted 150 million tons of oil in the Middle East at a total cost of 240
rnillion dollars, and made a net profit of 1,900 million dollars on this oil. Such is the
real picture of American "philanthropy-.". . .Seeking to cover up gross intervention in the internal affairs of the Middle East
countries and their aggressive policy with regard to these countries, the United States
ruling circles resort to inventions about a threat to the Arab countries emanating from
the Soviet Union. These slanderous assertions will decelve no one. The peoples of the
Middle East have not forgotten that the Soviet Union has alway's defended the
self-determination of peoples, the gaining and consolidating of their national
independence. They have learned froill experience that in relations with all countries the
Soviet Union steadfastly. pursues the policy. of equality and non-interfercnce in internal
affairs. They also know very well that the Soviet Union is actively supporting the right
of each people to dispose of its natural wealth and use it at its own discretion.It was not the Soviet Union, but Britain and France - the United States' chief partners
in the North Atlantic bloc - which committed aggression against Egypt, inflicting great
losses and suffering on the Egyptian people. This is borne out by the fresh ruins of Port
Said and other Egyptian cities, as well as by the new plans for United States economic,
political and military expansion in the Middle East proclaimed by the American President.
These aggressive plans of the American imperialists express their striving for world
domination, of which they speak now quite shamclcsslyl, presenting this aspiration as the
need for "energetic leadership" of the world by the United States.In the days of hard trials for the Arab peoples it was the Soviet Union, and no one
else, who came out as their sincere friend and, together with the pcaceloving forces of
the whole world, took steps to end the aggression against Egypt. All this is well known. .
. .It is well known that the Soviet Union, as distinct from the United States, does not
have and does not seek to have any military bases or concessions in the Middle East with
the object of extracting profits, does not strive to gain any privileges in that area,
since all this is incompatible with the principles of Soviet foreign policy.The Soviet Union is vitally interested in the maintenance of peace in the Middle East
area, situated as it is in direct proximity to its frontiers. It is sincerely interested
in consolidating the national independence of those countries and in their economic
prosperity and regards this as a reliable guarantee of peace and security in that area.In our age the national liberation movement of the peoples is a historical force that
cannot be repressed.The Soviet Union, loyal to the great Leninist principles of recognising and respecting
the rights of peoples, large and small, to independent development, regards as one of its
prime tasks the rendering of every assistance and support to the countries fighting to
consolidate their national independence and their sovereignty. That is why it welcomes the
growing unity of the peoples of the Arab countries in their struggle for peace, security,
national freedom and independence.The Soviet Union opposes any manifestations of colonialism, any "doctrines"
which protect and cover up colonialism. It is opposed to unequal treaties and agreements,
the setting up of military bases on foreign territories, dictated by strategic
considerations, and plans for establishing the world domination of imperialism. It
proceeds from the premise that the natural wealth of the underdeveloped countries is the
inalienable national possession of the peoples of those countries, who have the full right
to dispose of it independently and to use it for their economic prosperity and progress.
The need to strengthen peace and security demands the wide development of political,
economic and cultural ties between all countries. The development of these ties is an
important prerequisite for using the achievements of contemporary science and technology
for the good of mankind. The policy of establishing closed aggressive military blocs, such
as N.A.T.O., S.E.A.T.O. and the Baghdad Pact, and the raising of artificial economic
barriers hampering normal relations between states seriously impairs the cause of peace.
The Soviet Union, striving to render assistance to peoples fighting for the consolidation
of their national independence and the earliest elimination of the aftermath of colonial
oppression, is willing to develop all-round co-operation with them on the principles of
full equality and mutual benefit. . . .Authoritative Soviet circles hold that the steps with regard to the Middle East area
outlined by the United States government, which envisage the possibility of employing
United States armed forces in that area, might lead to dangerous consequences, the
responsibility for which will rest entirely with the United States government.
Source:from Soviet News, No. 354( (jaramy 14, 1957), pp. 33-34.
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© Paul Halsall, November 1998
halsall@fordham.edu
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