Assistant Secretary of State George C. McGhee said today, prior to his departure from Israel, that although grave problems in the Middle East persist, such as the refugee question and the failure to attain a peace settlement, “I am able to report a lessening of tensions since my last visit in 1949 and I am confident for the future.”
The American diplomat, who is in charge of Middle East affairs for the State Department, arrived in Israel yesterday on his tour of Middle Eastern capitals and was schedule to leave tonight for the Old City of Jerusalem. During his 36 hours in Israel, Mr. McGhee conferred with President Chaim Weizmann, Premier David Ben Gurion, Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, Finance Minister Eliezer Kaplan and other key Israel figures. He expressed particular gratification at meeting Dr. Walter Eytan, director-general of the Foreign Ministry, whom he described as an Oxford college mate.
He said he was impressed by Israel’s “remarkable achievements in its few years of statehood” and said there is no question of “the spirit of vigor and self-dedication of the people of modern Israel.” Commenting on his swing around the Middle Eastern capitals, Mr. McGhee declared:
“I had a very satisfactory series of visits in the Middle East countries where I had frank and friendly talks with their leaders. Although grave problems persist, such as the refugees and the failure to attain a peace settlement, I am able to report a lessening of tensions since my last visit in 1949 and I am confident for the future. I am impressed by Israel’s remarkable achievements in its few years of statehood. Of the spirit of vigor and self-dedication of the people of modern Israel there is no question; the people of Israel face many and complex problems.
“A problem among the world’s free peoples,” he added, “is the release of creative impulses of men everywhere, enabling them to plant fields and build industries which give all men a minimum decent standard of living. Basic to the success of this endeavor is an atmosphere of peace and mutual confidence among nations. We in America are striving to create this atmosphere in many parts of the world today. It matters little how well one builds one’s own country if his relations with his neighbors are not strong, friendly and secure,” he concluded.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
