Beam Meeting with Soviet Officials on Russian Mideast Involvement

The State Department said today that U.S. Ambassador Jacob Beam was meeting with Soviet officials in Moscow on the Soviet involvement in Egypt. Department spokesman Robert J. McCloskey said Ambassador Beam had an appointment today at the Soviet Foreign Ministry and planned to raise the question of reports that Russian pilots are flying Egyptian planes on missions over Egypt. Mr. McCloskey said Ambassador Beam would “question it, ask for an explanation and what Soviet intentions are.” Sen. Jacob K. Javits said today that the United States should give Israel more Phantom jets immediately. Replying to questions by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the New York Republican said, “While the situation has not reached crisis proportions in the Middle East, it is fraught with danger.”

(In Tel Aviv, former United States Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey declared last night that Israel is “not alone,” because “America will not let you down.” He spoke at a public meeting of the Israeli-USA Friendship League in Habimah Hall, attended by U.S. Ambassador Walworth Barbour and Tel Aviv University president George Wise. Mr. Humphrey said Israel must continue firmly the quest for peace, because that is the only hope of success. In this connection he used the Hebrew phrase “ein brerah”–“there is no alternative.” Speaking figuratively to Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Mr. Humphrey declared “You are wrong–the Middle East needs Israel.” He lauded Israel’s contributions to educational and scientific progress in the area.)