Israel to Sign Anglo-american Declaration on Free Passage of Ships Through Ababa

Israel agreed today to sign an Anglo-American declaration asserting the right of free passage for ships of all nations through the Gulf of Ababa, a spokesman for the Israel Embassy announced. He said Israel had been invited to sign the declaration and had agreed to do so.

The declaration pledges signatory nations to exercise their right to passage and join in securing this for any other nation. This last point made it possible for Israel to sign even though Israel was not specifically mentioned by name in the text of the declaration. Other maritime nations may join in signing the declaration.

British Prime Minister Harold Wilson indicated to a press conference here that the right of Israeli-flag ships would not necessarily be included in a proposed statement by maritime powers reasserting the freedom of passage in the Gulf of Ababa. He was vague on what action might be taken if the declaration were adopted and failed to open the straits to Israel-bound shipping. If actual military commitments were contemplated, he said, “it should be on a multilateral basis preferably through the United Nations Security Council, but one can’t guarantee that will be the case.”

Endorsement of an Anglo-American declaration on maritime rights was voiced here by Senate Democratic Leader Mike Mansfield. The Senator said that “what’s good enough for the Soviet Union in the Bosporus and the Baltic is good enough for Israel in the Gulf of Ababa.”