Red China Denies Telephone Link with Israel, Vows No Contacts Ever

The Legation of Communist China issued a statement here declaring that the People Republic has had “no contact whatever” with Israel, past or present, and intends to have none in the future, The statement was prompted by wire service reports last week that Israel would have direct telephone communications with Peking beginning July 1, via the international communications satellite. The statement accused Israel of spreading rumors to that effect which it called a “groundless and willful fabrication.”

(Officials in Jerusalem reported Friday that Peking refused to accept calls from Israel although the communications system is in “perfect order.” The officials said the international telephone supervisor in London accepted calls for relay from Tel Aviv but on each occasion the Shanghai operator replied, “we cannot accept this call.” There was no information as to who in Israel placed calls to Communist China or for whom the calls were intended, Albania and the Arab states are the only other countries refusing to accept Israeli calls.)

The Legations statement said, “The question of instituting telephone communications with Israel simply does not exist. As is known to all, the Chinese Government and people have consistently given firm support to the just struggle of the Palestinians and other Arab peoples against the U.S. and Israeli aggressor. The Chinese Government and people have no contacts whatever with the Israelis. This has been the case in the past and will remain so in the future. This stand of the Peoples Republic is firm and unshakable.”