President Ford said here today that the United States will not tolerate stagnation and stalemate in its efforts for a negotiated settlement in the Middle East. Ford spoke at a luncheon offered in his honor by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
Today’s luncheon at Sadat’s Salzburg residence, Fuschl Castle, was the first time the two men met. Ford arrived in Salzburg this morning from Madrid, Sadat arrived yesterday evening from Vienna where he had paid an official state visit. The American President paid tribute in his toast to Sadat’s statesmanship and wisdom. He said that the Egyptian president had demonstrated beyond any doubt Egypt’s sin- cere desire for peace by deeds, He said Sadat has also shown his fervent desire to turn the energies and talents of his people toward the creation of a better life for them, and for all peoples.
Ford indicated that the U.S. was prepared to extend economic and technical help to Egypt and will do its utmost to be a helpful partner in Sadat’s programs for the progress of Egypt.
PRESSURE ON ISRAEL EXPECTED
After the toast American circles here indicated that Ford’s warning that no stagnation will be tolerated was aimed at those who try to freeze the situation. It also seemed clear that America will bring heavy pressure to bear on Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin when they meet next week in Washington. American-sources also said that it seemed highly likely that Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger will renew his step-by-step approach some time this summer. They said that Egypt was not opposed to such an initiative.
At the lunch, at which the toasts were in water out of respect for the Egyptian hosts who do not drink alcohol which is forbidden to Moslems, Sadat indicated what his line will be during the two-day summit meeting with Ford. He clearly played down the Palestinian issue and concentrated his appeals on the need for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories.
PALESTINIANS MENTIONED LAST
The Egyptian President said it was a simple matter to solve the Mideast conflict as long as the parties concerned, including the superpowers who are, in one form or the other wittingly or unwittingly involved in the problem, adhere to the basic and undisputed principle; Namely, the recognition of the independence and territorial integrity of states; the inadmissibility of acquisition of territory by force; the acceptance and respect of the basic kind of self-determination for the Palestinian people and their right to live in a national home.
Observers here stressed that Sadat mentioned the Palestinians at the very last and that for the first time in recent years did not speak about their legitimate rights or national aspirations but about their legitimate right to a national home. The two Presidents seemed to be in excellent spirits as they left the lunch which had consisted of soup with dumplings, fresh lake pike, venison and apple strudel with whipped cream. They later met at Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky’s Salzburg residence for their first working session and tonight they will be the dinner guests of the Chancellor and then will resume their meetings tomorrow morning.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
