Rogers’ Scheduled Announcement of U.S. Jet Policy Toward Israel Seen As Iii Omen

Foreign Ministry circles are unhappy over the disclosure in Washington yesterday that the decision on Israel’s request for more Phantom and Skyhawk jets will be announced by Secretary of State William P. Rogers rather than by President Nixon himself. While there is no official comment here, the feeling is that the announcement will be couched in general terms which would not be the case if it were made by the President. Some circles here reasoned that if the decision was favorable to Israel’s request, President Nixon would have wanted to make the announcement himself rather than delegate the task to Mr. Rogers. According to reports from Washington, a State Department press conference next Thursday or Friday will be the forum for Mr. Rogers’ announcement.

(The Secretary of State met with President Nixon in the White House yesterday. Directly after that meeting, White House spokesman Ronald I. Ziegler said “The announcement (on Israel’s request) will be made later this week at the State Department.” That was confirmed at a State Department press briefing today.) (Secretary Rogers said in a television interview today on the NBC “Today” show that although be saw no signs of any settlement in the Middle East, he was “happy to note a decrease in (military) activity on both sides.” Mr. Rogers was asked if the fact that he was scheduled to announce the Administration’s decision on Israel’s request for more Phantoms and Skyhawks meant that the U.S. was going to reject it. He smiled and replied, “That it an interesting speculation.” Mr. Rogers declined comment on another question which posed the issue whether a negative reply in effect would not be a de jute embargo imposed in the hope that the Soviet Union would join in later.)