London Still Waiting for Cairo Offer to Allow Passage of Tankers to Israel

The British Foreign Office has received no indication from the British Ambassador to Egypt that the Egyptian Government is prepared to permit Haifa-bound oil tankers to pass through the Suez Canal, it was learned here today. It is understood that in view of the possibility of such an offer being made, the British resolution against the Suez Canal blockade which has been circulated at the United Nations will not be presented to the Security Council immediately.

The naval correspondent of the Daily Express reported today that all British warships in the Gulf of Aqaba, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf have been instructed to secure “safe and unmolested passage” for all merchant ships and to use “whatever force necessary to achieve this.” The report added that all British merchant vessels on the Suez-Aqaba route will henceforth be escorted by warships.